A facile and versatile platform for preparing uniform π-conjugated nanofibers with controlled length and varying shells

Abstract

The development of facile, efficient and versatile approaches for preparing π-conjugated-polymer-based nanofibers (CPNFs) with controlled length, composition and surface chemistry is of paramount importance due to the promising applications of CPNFs in fields ranging from electronics to nanomedicine. In this article, we report the generation of uniform CPNFs consisting of a π-conjugated oligo(p-phenylenevinylene) (OPV₅) core and coronas of diverse properties with controllable length by the combination of activated-ester/amine chemistry and a self-seeding approach of living crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA). Poly(pentafluorophenyl methacrylate) (PPFMA) is used as a versatile precursor to efficiently prepare diverse corona-forming segments by “click-type” activated-ester/amine chemistry. Subsequently, amine-based 18-crown-ether-6 (18C6) and dimethylamino (DMA) groups used as model functional moieties were treated with the pentafluorophenyl esters of PPFMA, followed by coupling with OPV₅ to afford OPV₅-containing BCPs with varying corona-forming segments. By the self-seeding approach of living CDSA, uniform fiber-like micelles with either 18C6- or DMA-based coronas with controlled length can be obtained. The 18C6 and DMA units enable the installation of diverse functional units, such as metal ions, metal clusters, metal nanoparticles, chiral amines and porphyrins. This work presents a facile and versatile platform to generate uniform CPNFs with controlled length and varying functionalities.