Synthesis of electrically conducting and thermally stable photoluminescent anthracene nanorods

Thermally stable, crystalline, electrically conducting and brightly fluorescent (φemiss = 10%) anthracene nanorod is reported. The π conjugated crystalline anthracene nanorod with an average length of 206 nm and width of 39 nm is characterized via HRSEM, TEM, AFM, FTIR, Raman and XPS techniques. DFT studies show a tunable bandgap depending upon the number of anthracene units in the nanorod. The electrostatic potential maps reveal a delocalization of π-electron cloud with more electron density at the acetylenic linkages compared to the peripheral anthracenes. Compared to the monomer, an extended conjugation present in the anthracene nanorod accounts for its significant electrical conductivity (9.9 × 10−2 Sm−1). In addition, TGA analysis and SAED pattern respectively confirm high thermal stability and crystalline nature of the material. Above all, anthracene nanorod exhibits an excitation dependent emission in the range of 433–567 nm, attributed to the presence of the rods with varied length. Covalent linkages in the anthracene nanorods, unlike the existing organic nanorods which are formed via π-π stacking induced self-assembly, make them a unique material among known 1D nanomaterials.