Layer-by-layer assembly of luminescent ultrathin films by layered double hydroxides and neutral Al–Phen–Hq.

Highly transparent ultrathin films (UTFs) were fabricated via layer-by-layer assembly of 110-Phenanthroline monohydrate (Phen)–8-hydroxyquinoline (Hq)–Al3+(Phen–Hq–Al), polyvinyl alchol(PVA) and Mg–Al-layered double hydroxide (LDH)nanosheets. UV–visible absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy showed regular growth of UTFs increasing the numbers of assembly. The structure and morphology of Mg–Al-layered double hydroxide and UTFs were measured by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, XRD and SEM. We found that it can detect Fe3+ ion with relative selectivity and high sensitivity (Ksv = 2.214 × 104 M−1) which indicates that UTFs can be a potential fluorescent probe for selectively of the Fe3+ ion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]