%0 journal article
%@ 0743-7463
%A Knaapila, M., Evans, R.C., Haramus, V.M., Almasy, L., Szekely, N.K., Gutacker, A., Scherf, U., Burrows, H.D.

%D 2010
%J Langmuir
%N 19
%P 15634-15643 
%R doi:10.1021/la102591b
%T Structure and “Surfactochromic” Properties of Conjugated Polyelectrolyte (CPE): Surfactant Complexes between a Cationic Polythiophene and SDS in Water
%U https://doi.org/10.1021/la102591b
19 
%X We report on the phase transitions, solution structure, and consequent effect on the photophysical properties of poly[3-(6-trimethylammoniumhexyl)thiophene] bromide (P3TMAHT) in aqueous sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS). Polythiophene was mixed with SDS or deuterated SDS to form P3TMAHT(SDS)x complex (x = the molar ratio of surfactant over monomer units) in D2O and studied by small-angle neutron and X-ray scattering (SANS/SAXS) and optical spectroscopy. At room temperature, P3TMAHT forms charged aggregates with interparticle order. The addition of SDS eliminates the interparticle order and leads to rod-like (x = 1/5) or sheet-like polymer−SDS aggregates (x = 1/2 to 1) containing rod-like (x = 1/5 to 1/2) or sheet-like (x = 1/2 to 1) polymer associations. Partial precipitation occurs at the charge compensation point (x = 1). Ellipsoidal particles without interparticle order, reminiscent of SDS micelles modified by separated polymer chains, occur for x = 2 to 5. Free SDS micelles dominate for x = 20. Structural transitions lead to a concomitant variation in the solution color from red (P3TMAHT) to violet (x = 1/5 to 1) to yellow (x > 2). The photoluminescence fingerprint changes progressively from a broad featureless band (x = 0) through the band narrowing and appearance of vibronic structure (x = 1/5 to 1) to the return to a blue-shifted broad emission band (x = 5). The polymer stiffness reaches a maximum for x = 1, which leads to minimization of the Stokes shift (0.08 eV). This work gives fundamental information upon how surfactant complexation can influence both the solution structure and photophysical properties of a water-soluble polythiophene.