Enhancing the photoluminescence intensity of conjugated polycationic polymers by using quantum dots as antiaggregation reagents.

The aggregation in conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPs) can be effectively reduced by the formation of CP/nanoparticle assemblies. The photophysical properties of various nanoassemblies were studied by means of UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy in solution and as thin films. The dissociation of the polymer chains is caused by favorable electrostatic interactions between the cationic substituents of the CPs and the anionic charges present on the surface of the nanoparticles. Such an efficient displacement of pi-stacking by competitive positive interactions constitutes the first example of positive aggregation modulation.