Facile solution synthesis without surfactant assistant for ultra long Alq3 sub-microwires and their enhanced field emission and waveguide properties

Ultra long crystalline Alq3 (tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminium) sub-microwires have been obtained by a one-step anti-solvent (the solvent with poor solubility to the solute) diffusion method combined solvent-evaporation- induced self-assembly without surfactant assistant. Field emission measurements demonstrate an enhanced field emission property with a relative low turn-on field but a very high maximum current density. Optical properties measurements also indicate the potential application on waveguide of these Alq3 sub-microwires. © The Royal Society of Chemistry.