Semiconducting polymers are widely being investigated for different applications, including in energy storage, conversion, and the biomedical field. Combining the electrical properties of semiconductive polymers with gels is an attractive approach for their potential biomedical and engineering applications. In this presentation, we will report the gelation of a semiconductive polymer, poly(3-hexylthiophene), in the presence of a low molecule mass gelator, di-Fmoc-L-lysine or di-Fmoc. The gels were formed by a temperature-triggered method. UV−vis spectroscopic analysis captured the change in photophysical responses during the gelation process. A nanofibrillar microstructure for both the pristine di-Fmoc gel and P3HT-containing di-Fmoc gel (hybrid gel) has been captured using atomic force microscopy. The self-assembly of Fmoc and P3HT molecules has been confirmed using GIWAXS. The conductive AFM study captures the conductive P3HT domains in the gels. The conductivity of dried gel films was measured and compared with that of dried P3HT thin films. Both these samples displayed a similar level of conductivity despite having a much lower concentration of P3HT in the dried gel films. It has been hypothesized that P3HT in hybrid gels formed a percolated network in the gel, which was maintained during the drying process. Our technique can be utilized for large-scale thin films/coatings in optoelectronic applications.

Gelation of semiconducting polymers assisted by a low molecular weight gelator

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