title: Nanowires formed by the co-assembly of a negatively charged low-molecular weight gelator and a zwitterionic polythiophene.
abstract: Conjugated organic nanowires have been prepared by co-assembling a carboxylate containing low-molecular weight gelator (LMWG) and an amino acid substituted polythiophene derivative (PTT). Upon introducing the zwitterionic polyelectrolyte PTT to a basic molecular solution of the organogelator, the negative charges on the LMWG are compensated by the positive charges of the PTT. As a result, nanowires form through co-assembly. These nanowires are visualized by both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Depending on the concentration and ratio of the components these nanowires can be micrometers long. These measurements further suggest that the aggregates adopt a helical conformation. The morphology of these nanowires are studied with fluorescent confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The interactions between LMWG and PTT are characterized by steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy studies. The steady-state spectra indicate that the backbone of the PTT adopts a more planar and more aggregated conformation when interacting with LMWG. The time- resolved fluorescence decay studies confirm this interpretation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Colloid Science, Wageningen University, Dreijenplein 6, 6703 HB Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ganesan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palaniswamy
authors.forename: Menno R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aslund
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Konradsson
authors.forename: Antonius T M
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Marcelis
authors.forename: Ernst J R
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Sudhölter
authors.forename: Martien A Cohen
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.forename: Frans A M
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Leermakers
mesh_terms: D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008970:Molecular Weight; D053770:Nanowires / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D013876:Thiophenes; C066730:polythiophene