Unidirectional orientation of methylene blue intercalated in K₄Nb₆O₁₇ single crystal

Intercalation of methylene blue into K₄Nb₆O₁₇ single crystals was investigated for the construction of hybrid materials with three-dimensional anisotropy. By the reaction of K₄Nb₆O₁₇ with a methylene blue aqueous solution in the presence of propylamine, methylene blue/K₄Nb₆O₁₇ intercalation compounds were obtained. The basal spacing increased to 3.0 nm, and the macroscopic thickness of the crystal also increased. The regularity in the ac plane did not change by the reaction as evidenced by the in-plane X-ray diffraction measurements. Polarized absorption spectra showed a dichroism showing that the methylene blue/K₄Nb₆O₁₇ intercalation compounds possess three-dimensionally confined nanostructures.