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.