Poly(3-hexylthiophene) Aggregate Formation in Binary Solvent Mixtures: An Excitonic Coupling Analysis

The aggregation behavior of P3HT [M-n approximate to 28.2 kDa, regioregularity >96%, PDI approximate to 1.3] in 96 solvent mixtures is studied using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. Hansen solubility parameters and Spano excitonic coupling analyses are used to identify correlations between the properties of the solvent mixtures and the extent of structural order of the aggregates. It is clear that the identity of the poor solvent used to drive aggregation has a significant impact on the excitonic coupling behavior and, hence, the structural order of the P3HT aggregates. However, solubility parameter theory does not account nor provide a predictive theory for the observed trends. Instead, qualitative arguments based on the nature of the interactions between the solvents and the polythiophene and hexyl side chain motifs are used to rationalize the kinetics of formation and the observed excitonic coupling characteristics of the P3HT aggregates. (c) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014, 52, 526-538