Quantum rods location control in the self-assembled conjugated polymer-based hybrid nanowire

Abstract

Hybrid nanowire (NW)-based heterojunction consisting of organic conjugated polymers (CPs) and inorganic quantum nanoparticles can be adopted for developing optoelectronic devices. The charge separation and transport in the hybrid NWs have been investigated in accordance with the shape of quantum nanoparticles such as dot, rod, and tetrapod, etc. Unfortunately, it has remained challenging to precisely control the configuration of quantum nanoparticles within the CPs-based hybrid NWs. Further, studies on controlling the location and orientation of nanoparticles along the longitudinal axis of NWs have not been reported. In this study, not only the conjugation length of CPs, but also the location and orientation of quantum rods (QRs) within hybrid NWs were controlled along with the variation in solvent mixing rate. A gradual diffusion of poor solvent to CPs at top layer into a good solvent containing both CPs and QRs at bottom layer showed the different orientations of QRs within NWs as well as the lengths of hybrid NWs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) tomography was performed to confirm the location and orientation of QRs within the hybrid NWs. This study could provide an insight for the fabrication of hybrid NWs with customized performance in developing optoelectronic devices.