A novel type of energy donor-acceptor system on a clay surface has been prepared. The energy transfer between an energy-donating cationic pyrene derivative (An-Py2+) and an energy-accepting tris(bipyridine)ruthenium complex (Ru2+) on the clay surface was investigated using absorption, emission, and lifetime measurements. An obvious energy transfer was observed, and one Ru2+ molecule quenched the emission from five molecules of An-Py2+ with an emission quenching efficiency of 85% on the clay surface. This suggests that the light energies absorbed by five of the An-Py2+ molecules were accumulated in the one Ru2+ molecule. Near-quantitative emission quenching was observed for stoichiometric amounts of An-Py2+ and Ru2+. The apparent quenching rate constant is approximately 10(17) L mol(-1) s(-1), and thus the quenching rate constant is 10(7)-10(8) times higher than the diffusion rate constant in a homogeneous solution.