摘要：SummaryThere has been growing interest in water-processable conjugated polymers for biocompatible devices. However, some broadly used conjugated polymers like poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) are hydrophobic and they cannot be processed in water. We herein report a facile yet highly efficient assembly method to prepare water-dispersible pyridine-containing P3HT (Py-P3HT) nanoparticles (NPs) with a high yield (>80%) and a fine size below 100 nm. It is based on the fast nanoprecipitation of Py-P3HT stabilized by hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). Py-P3HT can form spherical NPs at a concentration up to 0.2 mg/mL with a diameter of∼75 nm at a very low concentration of PAA,e.g., 0.01–0.1 mg/mL, as surface ligands. Those negatively charged Py-P3HT NPs can bind with metal cations and further support the growth of noble metal NPs like Ag and Au. Our self-assembly methodology potentially opens new doors to process and directly use hydrophobic conjugated polymers in a much broader context.Graphical abstractDisplay OmittedHighlights•Water-dispersible P3HT nanoparticles are prepared using nanoprecipitation•P3HT favors H-type aggregates in the presence of PAA•Negatively charged P3HT nanoparticles can bind with metal ions and nanoparticlesMaterials science; Materials synthesis; Nanomaterials
