Directed Growth of 1D Assemblies of Perylene Diimide from a Conjugated Polymer

The templated growth of 1D assemblies of perylene diimides (PDI) formed within a conjugated polymer is described. The formation of this unique morphology is accomplished through the synthesis of a PDI-functionalized conjugated polymer and its solution casting in the presence of PDI. The strategy is demonstrated with poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), partially functionalized at the 4-position with N-(1-hexylheptyl)-N′-(12-carboxylicdodecyl)perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylbisimide (PP3HT). The 1D assemblies of PDI embedded in the optoelectronically active polymer are hundreds of nanometers wide, 10−20 nm thick, several micrometers in length, and run parallel to the surface of the substrate. Surrounding the 1D structures is a heterogeneous PP3HT-PDI blend, comprising PP3HT domains less than 10 nm in size. Excitation energy in thin film blends of PP3HT:PDI is quenched to a much greater extent than simple molecular blends of P3HT and PDI. These systems represent structures of multiple hierarchy, wherein nanosized ...