One-pot synthesis of nanocaterpillar structures via in situ nanoparticlization of fully conjugated poly(p-phenylene)-block-polythiophene

Abstract

1D nanocaterpillar structures were spontaneously formed during the synthesis of fully conjugated poly(2,5-dihexyloxy-1,4-phenylene)-block-polythiophene due to the strong π–π interactions between the polythiophene blocks. With the elongation of the polythiophene block, nanostructures evolved from nanospheres to nanocaterpillars and their length and height increased with good control.