Structural and Optical Identification of Planar Side-Chain Stacking P3HT Nanowires

Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) is well-recognized for forming π-πstacked crystalline films and nanowires. In this study, we identified a new planar crystalline P3HT architecture assembled by hexyl side chains. The atomic force microscopy results indicated that both the π-πstacking and side-chain stacking nanowires were crystalline ribbons decorated with amorphous fringes. The different stacking structures of the nanowires led to different interchain coupling strengths and hence spectroscopic properties. Both types of nanowires were characterized using confocal microscopy and scanning near-field optical microscopy. The coexistence of the planar side-chain stacking structure in P3HT films and nanowires along with the π-πstacking architecture leads to multiplicity in their optical properties. ? 2021 American Chemical Society.