One-Dimensional Helical Nanostructures from the Hierarchical Self-Assembly of an Achiral "Rod-Coil" Alternating Copolymer

The self-assembly of alternating copolymers (ACPs) has attracted considerable interest due to their unique alternating nature. However, compared with block copolymers, their self-assembly behavior remains much less explored and their reported self-assembled structures are limited. Here, the formation of supramolecular helical structures by the self-assembly of an achiral rod-coil alternating copolymernamed as poly(quarter(3-hexylthiophene)-alt-poly(ethylene glycol)) (P(Q3HT-alt-PEG)), is reported. The copolymer exhibits an interesting hierarchical self-assembly process, driven by the pi-pi stacking of the Q3HT segments and the solvophobic interaction of the alkyl chains in tetrahydrofuran (THF)-isopropanol mixed solvents. The copolymer first self-assembled into thin nanobelts with a uniform size, then grows to helical nanoribbons and eventually twisted into helical nanowires with an average diameter of 25 +/- 9 nm and a mean pitch of 80 +/- 10 nm. Dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulation supports the formation course of the helical nanowires. Furthermore, the addition of (S)-ethyl lactate and (R)-ethyl lactate in the self-assembly of P(Q3HT-alt-PEG) results in the formation of left-handed and right-handed chiral nanowires, respectively, demonstrating the tunability of the chirality of the helical wires. This study expands the library of ordered self-assembled structures of ACPs, and also brings a new strategy and mechanism to construct helical supramolecular structures.