Conjugated Polymer Silica Nanocomposites

Using polymerizable surfactants as both structure directing agents and monomers, we have continued our investigation of nanostructured conjugated polymer (polydiacetylene)/silica nanocomposites that exhibit thermochromic, mechanochromic, and solvatochromic switching behavior of interest for sensors. Specifically we have discovered rapidly reversible thermochromic switching under some conditions and have self-assembled pure PDA nanostructures (prepared without silica) that show rapid reversible switching (thermo-, solvato-, mechano-) accompanied by phase transformations. These systems should provide insight as to how the silica hosts influence the molecular switching behaviors. We also prepared polyphenylenevinylene (PPV)/silica nanocomposites with hexagonal structures. We expect that nanostrucutring of conjugated polymers could improve their photoluminescent and electroluminescent quantum efficiencies.

References:

Self-assembly of mesoscopically ordered chromatic polydiacetylene/silica nanocomposites. Lu, YF; Yang, Y; Sellinger, A; Lu, MC; Huang, JM; Fan, HY; Haddad, R; Lopez, G; Burns, AR; Sasaki, DY; et. al. NATURE; APR 19 2001; v.410, no.6831, p.913-917

Functional nanocomposites prepared by self-assembly and polymerization of diacetylene surfactants and silicic acid. Yang, Y; Lu, YF; Lu, MC; Huang, JM; Haddad, R; Xomeritakis, G; Liu, NG; Malanoski, AP; Sturmayr, D; Fan, HY; Sasaki, DY; Assink, RA; Shelnutt, JA; van Swol, F; Lopex, GP; Burns, AR; Brinker, CJ. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY; FEB 5 2003; v.125, no.5, p.1269-1277