Alignment and dynamic manipulation of conjugated polymer nanowires in nematic liquid crystal hosts

Poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) nanowires incorporating the polymer beta-phase are synthesized by template methods. Nanowire photoluminescence is anisotropic, consistent with internal alignment of the beta-phase during synthesis. Incorporation of nanowires into a nematic liquid crystal host permits good alignment of the wires and rapid, reversible electric field-assisted dynamic switching of wire orientation, and of wire emission anisotropy, at the single wire level.