Selected-area in situ generation of highly fluorescent organic nanowires embedded in a polymer film: the solvent-vapor-induced self-assembly process

Abstract

The preparation of highly fluorescent one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures within a selected area of a solid substrate is a challenging requirement for the realization of optoelectronic nanodevices. We present a novel method for fabricating highly fluorescent organic nanowires (NWs) embedded in a variety of polymer films through the combined processes of photochemical lithography and solventvapor annealing (SVA). To achieve this, we designed and synthesized an acid-responsive organic fluorophore bearing a self-assembly moiety. The in situ self-assembly of this fluorophore into ultralong nanowires proceeds selectively in designated regions of the polymer matrix via a simple selected-area SVA process. The I-V electrical characteristics of 2-(3 0 ,5 0 -bis(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl-4-yl)-3-(6-3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)pyridine-3-yl)acrylonitrile (Py-CN-TFMBE) structures, selfassembled using the SVA method, were measured on a two-terminal electrode device. This unique fabrication approach, which combines photochemical lithography and SVA, eliminates the difficulties of transferring preformed 1D organic nanostructures to fixed locations on a substrate, thereby establishing a new method for the fabrication control of optoelectronic nanodevices.

Highly Fluorescent and Color‐Tunable Exciplex Emission from Poly(N‐vinylcarbazole) Film Containing Nanostructured Supramolecular Acceptors

“…There was no morphological change to the PVK film after SVA either (see Figure S5). In addition, when we compared absorption spectra of PVK/acceptor blend before and after SVA, the modulated spectral region was limited only to that of the acceptor molecule, as shown in Figure S4 . Based on these observations, emission switching from exciplex to exciton was unambiguously attributed to the size evolution of the nanostructured acceptors.…”

“…In our previous work, gradual size growth of these nanostructured acceptors inside a variety of polymer matrices by solvent vapor annealing (SVA) was reported . Based on this observation, we carried out SVA treatment of polymer blend films to explore the fluorescent emission changes as a function of the structural evolution of nanostructured acceptors.…”

Recent advances in organic mechanofluorochromic materials

“…[53][54][55][56] However, the mechanofluorochromism of AIE compounds was first reported by Park et al until 2010. 57 The compound was a cyano-substituted distyrylbenzene derivative, dye 26.…”

Fluorescent Photochromic α‐Cyanodiarylethene Molecular Switches: An Emerging and Promising Class of Functional Diarylethene

“…The morphologies of these nanostructures and their emissions respond to external stimuli, including solvent vapor, water content, and light. [ 77–79 ] Zhao and coworkers synthesized an α‐cyanostilbene‐based amphiphilic molecule that self‐assembled into non‐emissive bilayer vesicles in aqueous media ( Figure A). [ 78a ] The introduction of cucurbit[7] (CB[7]) into the assembly, which suppressed the TICT state of the α‐cyanostilbene, was an effective strategy for turning on the fluorescence of the supramolecular system.…”