Self-Assembled Hybrid Materials Based on Organic Nanocrystals and Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

Organic crystalline materials are used as dyes/pigments, pharmaceuticals, and active components of photonic and electronic devices. There is great interest in integrating organic crystals with inorganic and carbon nanomaterials to create nanocomposites with enhanced properties. Such efforts are hampered by the difficulties in interfacing organic crystals with dissimilar materials. Here, an approach that employs organic nanocrystallization is presented to fabricate solution-processed organic nanocrystal/carbon nanotube (ONC/CNT) hybrid materials based on readily available organic dyes (perylene diimides (PDIs)) and carbon nanotubes. The hybrids are prepared by self-assembly in aqueous media to afford free-standing films with tunable CNT content. These exhibit excellent conductivities (as high as 5.78 ± 0.56 S m⁻¹), and high thermal stability that are superior to common polymer/CNT hybrids. The color of the hybrids can be tuned by adding various PDI derivatives. ONC/CNT hybrids represent a novel class of nanocomposites, applicable as optoelectronic and conductive colorant materials.

Free-standing organic nanocrystals/carbon nanotube (ONC/CNT) films are prepared via aqueous processing utilizing simple organic dyes (perylene diimides). These films have higher conductivities than their polymer counterparts and exceptionally high thermal stability. The ONC/CNT films are novel hybrid materials based on ONCs; they can be applicable as robust conductive colorants and optoelectronic materials.

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