Template-Synthesis of Conjugated Poly(3-Hexylselenophene) (P3HS) Nanofibers Using Femtosecond Laser Machined Fused Silica Templates

We report on the preparation of conjugated polymer nanofibers via template-synthesis. A femtosecond laser machined fused silica template, with a micro-patterned array of high-aspect ratio surface nanopores, was first spin-coated with a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution to form a water-soluble release layer. The PVA-lined template was then coated with a conjugated poly(3-hexylselenophene) (P3HS) - solvent solution. The solvent was allowed to dissipate, and the resulting {template / PVA liner / conjugated P3HS film} stack was then submerged in water to dissolve the PVA and release the conjugated polymer film from the template. The resulting conjugated polymer film exhibits an array of micro-patterned polymer nanofibers that constitute a negative replica of the PVA-lined template. The nanofibers come arranged in a vertical architecture that spans over the surface of the supporting film.