The present disclosure concerns the design, formulations, preparations and optical properties of compounds of Formulas (I) and (VI):(charged dyem+)x·(counterionn−)y·(
counterion receptor)z (I) and(charged dyem−)x·(counterionn+)y·(
counterion receptor)z (VI).The charged dyem+ is a cationic dye, counterionn− is an anion, and
counterion receptor is a binding ligand for the counterionn−, wherein m, n, x and y are integers greater than or equal to 1, and products of x·n and m·y are identical for formula (I).The charged dyem− is a anionic dye, counterionn+ is a cation, and counterion receptor is a binding ligand for the counterionn+, wherein m, n, x and y are integers greater than or equal to 1, and products of x·n and m·y are identical for formula (VI).