252
T. Onodera et al.
13.1 Introduction
13.1.1 Scopes of Hybridized Nanomaterials
Hybridization and/or hybrid on nanometer to sub-micrometer scales, for example,
typically polymer blends (polymer alloys), and polymer composites containing inorganic fillers, is one of the most important molecule design concepts and the interesting topics in current materials science and technology [1]. In these hybridized
systems, the domain size of each component and its three-dimensional distribution
in a polymer matrix would determine mainly the final properties and function, accompanied with selection and combinations of component materials [2]. As a result, the
resulting physicochemical properties would become additive and/or intermediate
state in the hybridized materials. Especially, organic–inorganic hybridized materials
like polymer composites are of too much interest [3], because of emergence of unique
nanostructure, and of enhancement of noble physical properties and excellent functions, due to peculiar couplings and interactions at an interface between organic and
inorganic components [4].
On the contrary, “hybridized nanomaterials” is on nanometer scale in overall
size, and should be essentially different from above-mentioned hybridized materials
[5]. The hybridized nanomaterials are in common comprised from metal nanoparticles (NPs) [6], semiconductor quantum dots (SQDs) [7], and magnetic (or inorganic oxides) NPs [8], and have recently attached great attention and interest on
nanoscience and nanotechnology. These kinds of NPs themselves provide characteristic properties, e.g., localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) [6], quantum
confinement effect [7], giant magneto resistive effect [8], and extraordinary polarization field induced by high refractive index [9]. In addition, π-conjugated organic and
polymer nanocrystals (NCs) are also one of the candidate components in hybridized
nanomaterials [10–12].
13.1.2 Organic and Polymer Nanocrystals
Organic and polymer NCs (hereinafter, called organic NCs) are a kind of molecule
crystals, and are occupied at an intermediate state between single molecule and the
corresponding bulk crystals [10–12]. Organic NCs are usually fabricated by means
of so-called reprecipitation method and its developed and/or improved processes,
and the crystal size is located in the range between several tens nanometer and submicrometers. For example, the acetone (good solvent) solution of diacetylene (DA)
monomer is quickly injected into vigorously stirred water medium as a poor solvent,
and then the formed DA NCs are solid-state polymerized to convert DA to polydicetylene (PDA) by UV-irradiation [13]. Here, PDA is a typical one-dimensional
π-conjugated polymer, and is one of the most promising organic nonlinear optical
T. Onodera et al.
13.1 Introduction
13.1.1 Scopes of Hybridized Nanomaterials
Hybridization and/or hybrid on nanometer to sub-micrometer scales, for example,
typically polymer blends (polymer alloys), and polymer composites containing inorganic fillers, is one of the most important molecule design concepts and the interesting topics in current materials science and technology [1]. In these hybridized
systems, the domain size of each component and its three-dimensional distribution
in a polymer matrix would determine mainly the final properties and function, accompanied with selection and combinations of component materials [2]. As a result, the
resulting physicochemical properties would become additive and/or intermediate
state in the hybridized materials. Especially, organic–inorganic hybridized materials
like polymer composites are of too much interest [3], because of emergence of unique
nanostructure, and of enhancement of noble physical properties and excellent functions, due to peculiar couplings and interactions at an interface between organic and
inorganic components [4].
On the contrary, “hybridized nanomaterials” is on nanometer scale in overall
size, and should be essentially different from above-mentioned hybridized materials
[5]. The hybridized nanomaterials are in common comprised from metal nanoparticles (NPs) [6], semiconductor quantum dots (SQDs) [7], and magnetic (or inorganic oxides) NPs [8], and have recently attached great attention and interest on
nanoscience and nanotechnology. These kinds of NPs themselves provide characteristic properties, e.g., localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) [6], quantum
confinement effect [7], giant magneto resistive effect [8], and extraordinary polarization field induced by high refractive index [9]. In addition, π-conjugated organic and
polymer nanocrystals (NCs) are also one of the candidate components in hybridized
nanomaterials [10–12].
13.1.2 Organic and Polymer Nanocrystals
Organic and polymer NCs (hereinafter, called organic NCs) are a kind of molecule
crystals, and are occupied at an intermediate state between single molecule and the
corresponding bulk crystals [10–12]. Organic NCs are usually fabricated by means
of so-called reprecipitation method and its developed and/or improved processes,
and the crystal size is located in the range between several tens nanometer and submicrometers. For example, the acetone (good solvent) solution of diacetylene (DA)
monomer is quickly injected into vigorously stirred water medium as a poor solvent,
and then the formed DA NCs are solid-state polymerized to convert DA to polydicetylene (PDA) by UV-irradiation [13]. Here, PDA is a typical one-dimensional
π-conjugated polymer, and is one of the most promising organic nonlinear optical