An electrospun flexible Janus nanoribbon array endowed with simultaneously tuned trifunctionality of electrically conductive anisotropy, photoluminescence and magnetism

Herein, a novel structured Janus nanoribbon array, {[Dy(BA)3phen + Eu(BA)3phen]/PMMA}//[PANI/Fe3O4/PMMA], possessing tunable anisotropic electrical conduction, photoluminescence, and magnetism was successfully prepared by electrospinning technology using a parallel spinneret. Every single Janus nanoribbon comprises PANI, Fe3O4 NPs, and PMMA as a conductive and magnetic side and Dy(BA)3phen and Eu(BA)3phen complexes and PMMA as an insulating and photoluminescent side. The emission color of the Janus nanoribbons array excited by 275 nm ultraviolet light could be oriented in an extensive range of yellow–orange–red color by modulating the contents of rare earth complexes, PANI or Fe3O4 NPs. Furthermore, electrically conductive anisotropy of the Janus nanoribbon array can be tuned by modulating the PANI content, and the conductance ratio of the directions parallel and perpendicular with respect to the length of the Janus nanoribbon varies from 104 to 106. The conductance in the parallel and perpendicular direction of the Janus nanoribbon array containing 60% of PANI is about 1.8246 × 10−4 S and 1.438 × 10−10 S, respectively. Furthermore, the magnetic performance of the Janus nanoribbon array could be tuned by modulating the quantities of Fe3O4 NPs. Moreover, the means of fabrication for the Janus nanoribbon array are of widespread significance for the fabrication of other anisotropically conductive films with multi-functionality.