Elaboration of conjugated polymer nanowires and nanotubes for tunable photoluminescence properties

Prototypal photoluminescent nanofibres of poly-(p-phenylene-vinylene) (PPV) were prepared by the wetting template method in polycarbonate nanoporous membranes with an easy all-in solution polymer precursor route. Both nanowires and nanotubes were obtained by varying the dilution of the polymer precursor in methanol prior to thermal conversion. PPV nanotubes exhibit unique features, such as blue-shifted emission at 2.80 eV, higher quantum yield, and longer fluorescence lifetime with respect to PPV films. These effects are attributed to the cancellation of interchain interactions that are consistent with nanoscale tubular structures formed from weakly interacting and short polymer chain segments. The synthesis of these objects opens up perspectives for tunable photoluminescence properties in the blue spectral range and for biochemical applications.