"Dead" Layer Dynamics of Poly(ethyl methacrylate) in Nanotubes

We report the segmental dynamics of poly(n-ethyl methacrylate) melts forming nanotubes inside cylindrical alumina nanopores (AAOs). Long nanotubes were fabricated at the inner pore walls by the polymer precursor film during the complete wetting transition at high temperatures. Using differential scanning calorimetry and dielectric spectroscopy, we show that the segmental dynamics in the nanotubes are bimodal and slower than in bulk with a broad distribution of relaxation times. These features reflect the dynamic properties of the "dead layer" formed by the adsorbed polymer chains at the pore walls.