Self-assembly of two-dimensional nanostructures of linear regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene)

Abstract

Two dimensional poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) nanosheets were prepared by evaporation of a diluted mixture of solvent. The dimension and size of the nanostructures was controlled by tuning the good-to-poor solvent ratio. The morphology and structure of the nanosheets were fully characterized. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) characterization showed the nanosheets were lamellar structures with a thickness of about 3–5 nm of a single layer. The anisotropic arrangement of P3HT was clearly defined by selected area electron diffraction. In the nanostructures, P3HT adopted the edge on orientation with the π–π stacking direction parallel to the substrate and the alkyl side chains perpendicular to the substrate. Single nanosheet showed a typical anisotropic charge carrier transport property.