Montmorillonite/cation azobenzene dye ( GTL) intercalation nanocomplexes were prepared. The thermostability of intercalated dye was greatly enhanced as compared with pure GTL. It was also found that the absorption band corresponding to azobenzene group in intercalated GTL shifted towards longer wavelength by 91 nm as compared with pure GTL, which could be ascribed to the strong conjugation of GTL supramolecular order structure (J cluster) confined in a nanoscale space of montmorillonite interlayer gallery. Using such nanocomplexes as blocks to build polyelectrolyte/cation azobenzene dye- montmorillonite nanocomposite films via electrostatic self-assembly technique, PDAC/GTL-montmorillonite photochromic nanocomposite films was constructed finally.

Key words: PHOTOCHROMISM, AZO DYES, NANOPHASE MATERIALS, POLYELECTROLYTE, MONTMORILLONITE