Two-Dimensional Alignment of Conjugated Polymers

Abstract

Orientated polymers and polymer nanostructures have attracted considerable attention because of their numerous potential applications. As well as reporting several methods for the organization of conjugated polymers, we have also reported a series of novel concepts for the alignment of conjugated polymers according to the action of supramolecular bundling molecules. In this chapter, two different approaches for aligning conjugated polymers will be introduced, including (1) the use of a cross-linking molecule (‘aligner’); and (2) the use of a twining polymer (‘twimer’) for the organization of conjugated polymers. Aligner molecules effectively bind and crosslink conjugated polymers in a positive allosteric manner to form organized supramolecular assemblies in solution. The cast films resulting from these solutions can result in a crystalline sheet with periodicities corresponding to the distances between the polymers, as confirmed by several microscopic studies. In contrast, twimers wrap themselves around the conjugated polymers in a helical manner to form one-dimensional complexes in solution, and these complexes subsequently self-assemble into two-dimensionally aligned structures during the drying process. The resulting films of conjugated polymer–twimer composites provide highly ordered, crystalline structures. The principal results obtained in the solution and solid states are discussed herein.