Back Cover: The fabrication and morphologies of three‐dimensional polystyrene‐block‐polydimethylsiloxane (PS‐b‐PDMS) nanostructures confined in the nanopores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates are studied. The block copolymers wet the nanopores using a novel solvent‐annealing‐induced wetting method. In addition, the morphologies of the PS‐b‐PDMS nanostructures are controlled by changing the wetting conditions. These three‐dimensional nanostructures can serve as nanotemplates for refilling with other functional materials. Further details can be found in the article by C.‐J. Chu, P.‐Y. Chung, M.‐H. Chi, Y.‐H. Kao, and J.‐T. Chen* on page 1598.
Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) is well-recognized for forming π−π stacked crystalline films and nanowires. In this study, we identified a new planar crystalline P3HT architecture assembled by hexyl side chains. The atomic force microscopy results indicated that both the π−π stacking and side-chain stacking nanowires were crystalline ribbons decorated with amorphous fringes. The different stacking structures of the nanowires led to different interchain coupling strengths and hence spectroscopic properties. Both types of nanowires were characterized using confocal microscopy and scanning near-field optical microscopy. The coexistence of the planar side-chain stacking structure in P3HT films and nanowires along with the π−π stacking architecture leads to multiplicity in their optical properties.
Front Cover: The macroscopic and microscopic effects on the photophysical properties of various pyrene‐ended poly(styrene‐block‐methyl methacrylate) nanostructures are studied. Fluorescent polymer nanospheres, nanorods, and nanotubes are prepared by different template‐based methods using anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes. Chain arrangements and conformations are determined as the key factors affecting the photophysical properties of the fluorescent polymer nanostructures. Further details can be found in the article by M.‐H. Chi, C.‐H. Su, M.‐H. Cheng, P.‐Y. Chung, C.‐H. Peng,* and J.‐T. Chen* on page 2037.
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