Author(s): Ethan Fielding
Mentor(s): Hussein Samha
Institution SUU
The effect of metal cations (monovalent cations; Na+, K+ and divalent cations; Mg2+, Ca2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+) on the aggregation behavior of the cyanine dye (NK-3796) in aqueous solution was investigated using UV-vis spectrophotometry. J-aggregates are formed in the aqueous solutions of cyanine dye upon incremental addition of salt solutions. The appearance of a narrow single, red-shifted band at 652 nm in the UV-vis spectra suggests that the dye monomers are quantitatively converted to J-aggregates in the presence of inorganic salts.