Abstract
One-dimensional (1D) nanostructures possess huge potential in electronics and optoelectronics, but the axial alignment of such 1D structures is still a challenging task. Herein, we report a simple method that enables two-dimensional (2D) C60 microsheets to evolve into highly ordered nanorod arrays using rubrene as a structure-directing agent. The structural transformation is accomplished by adding droplets of rubrene-m-xylene solution onto C60 microsheets and allowing the m-xylene solvent to evaporate naturally. In sharp contrast, when rubrene is absent from m-xylene, randomly oriented C60 nanorods are produced. Spectroscopic and microscopic characterizations collectively indicate a rather plausible transformation mechanism that the close lattice match allows the epitaxial growth of rubrene on C60 microsheets, followed by the reassembly of dissolved C60 along the aligned rubrene due to the intermolecular charge-transfer (CT) interactions, leading to the formation of ordered nanorod arrays. Due to the aligned structures and the CT interactions between rubrene and C60, the photocurrent density of the nanorod arrays is improved by 31.2% in the UV region relative to the randomly oriented counterpart. This work presents a facile and effective strategy for the construction of ordered fullerene nanorod arrays, providing new ideas for the alignment of fullerene and other relevant organic microstructures.
Highlights
The peculiar and fascinating properties of one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures have enabled the widespread applications in diverse fields such as electronics, photonics, energy, and so forth [1]
C60 microsheets (C60 MSs) prepared by the LLIP method present a rhombic shape (Figure 2(a1,a2))
The aggregated nanorods in C60 nanorods (C60 NRs) are observed under Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) (Figure 2(b3)), which displays a lattice spacing of 0.32 nm, corresponding to the (003) plane of the hexagonal close packed C60 (a = 2.376, c = 1.008 nm) (Figure 2(b4)) [37]
Summary
The peculiar and fascinating properties of one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures have enabled the widespread applications in diverse fields such as electronics, photonics, energy, and so forth [1]. Of particular interest are 1D nanostructures made of π-conjugated molecules due to their mechanical flexibility, solution processability, and minimized defects [2,3]. 1D organic nanostructures hold great promise in next-generation electronic and optoelectronic devices. For the purpose of on-demand photons/electrons transport on the macroscale, it is strongly desired that the 1D nanostructures are unidirectionally oriented. Several approaches have been developed for aligning 1D organic nanostructures into highly ordered arrays, including Langmuir–Blodgett (LB), dip-coating, spin-coating, templating, and printing techniques [9–15]. These methods often involve tedious and complicated procedures to fabricate organic molecules.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
