Preparation of anisotropic CdSe-P3HT core-shell nanorods using directly synthesized Br-functionalized CdSe nanorods

The simple yet robust synthetic strategy toward organic-inorganic nanocomposites was developed by capitalizing on robust click coupling between functionalized nanocrystals (NCs) and conjugated polymers (CPs). The functionalized NCs were directly synthesized dispensing with surface engineering of NCs such as ligand exchange by employing bifunctional ligand (i.e., 4-bromomethyl benzoic acid) at the NC synthesis stage. The direct synthetic conditions toward bromine-functionalized CdSe nanorods (NRs) were scrutinized by precisely tailoring the ratio of 4-bromomehtyl benzoic acid over aliphatic ligands. Subsequent substitution of bromine moiety at the NRs into azide yielded azide-terminated NRs. Finally, ethynyl-terminated poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) were grafted onto azide-functionalized NR surface via click chemistry, forming intimately contact P3HT-CdSe NR nanocomposites. Transmission electron microscope measurement revealed that CPs render the effective dispersion of NRs in the CP matrices. The success of grafting between CPs and NCs was substantiated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The optical properties of P3HT-CdSe NR nanocomposites were explored with absorption and photoluminescence studies.