A π-conjugated aromatic/heteroaromatic oligomer-containing vinyl monomer is generally provided, which can include a polymerizable group, a linker group, and a π-conjugated aromatic/heteroaromatic side chain. The π-conjugated aromatic/heteroaromatic side chain includes a first cyclopentadiene ring covalently attached to the linder group, a set of second cyclopentadiene rings covalently attached to the first cyclopentadiene ring, and a third cyclopentadiene ring positioned at a terminal end of the π-conjugated aromatic/heteroaromatic side chain such that the set of second cyclopentadiene rings is positioned between the first cyclopentadiene ring and the third cyclopentadiene ring. Methods are also provided for forming a polymer via polymerizing the π-conjugated aromatic/heteroaromatic oligomer-containing vinyl monomer, and for grafting a π-conjugated aromatic/heteroaromatic oligomer-containing polymer onto a surface of a nanomaterial.