Programmable Separation of Pre-Assembled P3HT from Free P3HT for Selective Nanowire Blends Confirmed by Quantitative TEM Analysis

Abstract

Precise control over crystalline versus amorphous domains and molecular orientation in conjugated polymer (CP) thin films is vital for enhancing performance of soft electronics like field‑effect transistors, LEDs, and solar cells. Here, we introduce a straightforward centrifugation-based purification method that isolates highly crystalline P3HT nanowires and their hybrids with CdSe quantum dots from non‑assembled polymers prepared via the whisker method. This separation enriches structural coherence and molecular ordering, markedly boosting hole mobility. Conversely, films derived from the supernatant of non- crystalline chains exhibit superior stretchability, revealing a critical trade‑off between electrical performance and mechanical flexibility. We establish a rational pathway to selectively engineer domain composition in CP films, enabling a tailored balance between high charge transport and mechanical compliance for next-generation flexible and wearable electronics.