We synthesized monochelic porphyrinic polystyrene (MPPS) and investigated its self-assembly with PEGylated fullerene (F-PEO) and pristine fullerene (C60), separately. Continuous fibrils and spherical aggregates were observed on complexation of MPPS with F-PEO and pristine C60 respectively.

Four-arm porphyrinic polystyrenes (TPP-PS) were prepared with well controlled and low dispersity, by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, and their self-assembly morphology with fullerene (C60) was investigated. Monodisperse nanospheres of porphyrin–fullerene complexes were obtained in organic solvents, which showed morphological changes (shrinkage–swelling) under different parameters (concentration, solvent and polymeric chain length). The optimized parameters gave well controlled and convenient fabrication of monodisperse nanospheres which were confirmed in both solution and dry phases. Optical studies (UV/Vis and fluorescence) confirmed the inter-molecular interactions between porphyrin and fullerene, while transmission electron microscopy gave insight into the morphology of monodisperse nanospheres.Graphical abstractFour-arm porphyrinic polystyrenes were prepared by RAFT polymerization with different chain lengths, which were further studied for their self-assembly behavior with fullerene. The monodisperse nanospheres were obtained, showing morphological changes under different parameters, which were characterized by spectroscopic techniques.Highlights► Four-arm porphyrin polystyrenes were synthesized and self-assembled with C60. ► Monodisperse nanospheres were obtained in organic solvents. ► Effects of different parameters on morphology were studied. ► Nanospheres showed swelling-shrinkage properties under different solvents. ► Molecular interactions and morphology were studied by UV/fluorescence and TEM studies.

Poly(triphenylamine-p-phenylenevinylene)s with two different end-groups were obtained through a Wittig polycondensation. The structures of two copolymers were characterized. Ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) and photoluminescence (PL) spectra show the end-capped polymer emits intensive green light in both solution and film state. Their applications in the detection of nitro compounds were investigated, and the results show high fluorescence quenching sensitivity of the end-capped polymer towards o-nitrotoluene (o-NT). When the concentration of o-NT was 21.5 × 10−3 mol/L, the fluorescence quenching reached 96%. Additionally, after the exposure of polymer film in three different quenchers such as dinitrotoluene (DNT), p-nitrobenzoquinone (p-BQ) and p-nitrotoluene (p-NT) for 600 s, its fluorescence quenching reached 93.6%, 11.5% and 77.9%, respectively. This kind of polymer has great advantages in preparation and may find applications in the detection of nitro explosives.