Nanowires of amorphous conjugated polymers prepared via a surfactant-templating process using an alkylbenzoic acid

Abstract

Conjugated polymer nanowires have recently attracted attention as new organic photocatalysts with improved photoexcited charge-carrier lifetime capable of efficient energy harvesting from sunlight. However, most methods to prepare the nanowires have focused on crystalline conjugated polymers, thereby limiting the number of usable polymer structures. In this study, we present a method for preparing nanowires of amorphous conjugated polymers to expand their applicability as photocatalysis. We demonstrate a nanowire fabrication process that utilizes an alkylbenzoic acid. At a specific concentration, the amphiphilic alkylbenzoic acid forms wire morphologies when its organic solution is added to an aqueous solution, partitioning the organic solution inside the wires and the outside aqueous solution. When the amorphous conjugated polymer in the organic solution is added, the conjugated polymers are located in the wires and form conjugated polymer nanowires upon removal of the organic solvent.