Supramolecularly assembled hybrid materials via molecular recognition between diaminopyrimidine-functionalized poly(hexylthiophene) and thymine-capped CdSe nanocrystals

A solution processible poly(3-hexylthiophene) derivative containing O-4-substituted diaminopyrimidine (ODAP) terminated side groups has been prepared by post-polymerization functionalization of the precursor copolymer, namely, regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene-co-3-(6-bromohexyl)thiophene), with 2,4-diamino-6-hydroxypyrimidine. An interesting feature of this polymer is its capability of the hydrogen bond assisted formation of organic-inorganic composites with 1-(6-mercaptohexyl)thymine functionalized semiconductor nanocrystals (CdSe). The composites, obtained in a simple one-pot preparation step, exhibit a homogeneous distribution of nanocrystals within the polymer matrix in an extended three-dimensional network, whereas in blends without specific interaction between the constituents, phase segregation on a submicron level occurs.