Unexpected Pathway in Organic Semiconductor Nanoparticle Formation.

ABSTRACT: Organic semiconductor (OSC) nanoparticles (NPs) are promising for numerous applications including greener organic photovoltaics and heterogeneous photocatalysts for solar H₂ production. Single component or mixed bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) OSC NPs are commonly prepared from conventional polymer OSCs via the miniemulsion-evaporation method using ultrasonication. However, realizing the expected NP size control with this approach remains elusive, limiting optimization. Here, we demonstrate that the presumed miniemulsion-evaporation mechanism is not the principal pathway forming NPs. Predominantly, a direct extraction of OSCs from the organic to the aqueous phase during ultrasonication results in NP formation prior to organic solvent evaporation, rendering NP size insensitive to emuls

SUBMITTER: Bouchez AE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12356114 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature