fill factor was estimated to be about 0.398. The monochromatic η (λ ex ¼ 488 nm) of
the single annealed P3HT/PCBM (1:2 wt%) NP was estimated to be about
1.32 Â 10
À5
%.
6 Conclusions and Outlooks
Nanostructures of light-emitting polymers with π-conjugated structure have been
synthesized and used as electronic and optical nanomaterials for nanoscale
optoelectronic devices and biosensors. Various synthetic methods such as chemical,
electrochemical, reprecipitation, and electrospinning methods with or without
nanoporous templates have been developed for the fabrication of polymer
nanostructures. The physical sizes and formation of the nanostructures can be controlled by adjusting the synthetic conditions. High-resolution LCM spectroscopy
allowed investigation of the light emission characteristics of individual
nanostructures. The light absorption and emission efficiencies of the light-emitting
polymer nanostructures can be tuned by chemical processing and post-synthetic
treatments, as well as by adjusting their physical dimensions. Post-synthetic
treatments such as electrochemical doping, E-beam irradiation, hydrothermal
processing, and nanoscale metal hybridization were used to modify the intrinsic
properties of the polymer nanostructures. The electronic structures of polymer NTs
and NWs can be varied through electrochemical doping and E-beam irradiation. The
optical properties and formation of NPs are dependent on the hydrothermal temperature. The hybridization of polymer nanostructures with nanoscale metals induces
drastic PL enhancement owing to SPR coupling. The light-emitting polymer
nanostructures introduced here can be applied to nanoscale identification barcodes,
label-free DNA-sensing, nanodiodes, and nanophotovoltaic devices. Industrial
applications of light-emitting polymer nanostructures are in their nascent stages.
Homogeneous dispersions of nanomaterials must be developed to enable further
applications in flexible optoelectronics. In addition, advanced device fabrication
techniques using single nanostructures are also required for nano-optoelectronics.
Acknowledgments This work was partially supported from the National Research Foundation
(NRF) grant funded by the Korean government (MEST) (No. 2012R1A2A2A01045102).
References
1. MacDiarmid AG (2001) Rev Mod Phys 73:701–712
2. Shirakawa H (2001) Rev Mod Phys 73:713–718
3. Heeger AJ (2001) Rev Mod Phys 73:681–700
4. Skotheim TA, Elsenbaumer RL, Reynolds JR (1998) Handbook of conducting polymers.
Dekker, New York
5. Perepichka IF, Perepichka DF, Meng H, Wudl F (2005) Adv Mater 17:2281–2305
240
Y.K. Hong et al.
the single annealed P3HT/PCBM (1:2 wt%) NP was estimated to be about
1.32 Â 10
À5
%.
6 Conclusions and Outlooks
Nanostructures of light-emitting polymers with π-conjugated structure have been
synthesized and used as electronic and optical nanomaterials for nanoscale
optoelectronic devices and biosensors. Various synthetic methods such as chemical,
electrochemical, reprecipitation, and electrospinning methods with or without
nanoporous templates have been developed for the fabrication of polymer
nanostructures. The physical sizes and formation of the nanostructures can be controlled by adjusting the synthetic conditions. High-resolution LCM spectroscopy
allowed investigation of the light emission characteristics of individual
nanostructures. The light absorption and emission efficiencies of the light-emitting
polymer nanostructures can be tuned by chemical processing and post-synthetic
treatments, as well as by adjusting their physical dimensions. Post-synthetic
treatments such as electrochemical doping, E-beam irradiation, hydrothermal
processing, and nanoscale metal hybridization were used to modify the intrinsic
properties of the polymer nanostructures. The electronic structures of polymer NTs
and NWs can be varied through electrochemical doping and E-beam irradiation. The
optical properties and formation of NPs are dependent on the hydrothermal temperature. The hybridization of polymer nanostructures with nanoscale metals induces
drastic PL enhancement owing to SPR coupling. The light-emitting polymer
nanostructures introduced here can be applied to nanoscale identification barcodes,
label-free DNA-sensing, nanodiodes, and nanophotovoltaic devices. Industrial
applications of light-emitting polymer nanostructures are in their nascent stages.
Homogeneous dispersions of nanomaterials must be developed to enable further
applications in flexible optoelectronics. In addition, advanced device fabrication
techniques using single nanostructures are also required for nano-optoelectronics.
Acknowledgments This work was partially supported from the National Research Foundation
(NRF) grant funded by the Korean government (MEST) (No. 2012R1A2A2A01045102).
References
1. MacDiarmid AG (2001) Rev Mod Phys 73:701–712
2. Shirakawa H (2001) Rev Mod Phys 73:713–718
3. Heeger AJ (2001) Rev Mod Phys 73:681–700
4. Skotheim TA, Elsenbaumer RL, Reynolds JR (1998) Handbook of conducting polymers.
Dekker, New York
5. Perepichka IF, Perepichka DF, Meng H, Wudl F (2005) Adv Mater 17:2281–2305
240
Y.K. Hong et al.