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Published on: September 10, 2012
Subnanometer-Diameter Wires Isolated in a Polymer Matrix by Fast Polymerization
1J. H. Golden, F. J. DiSalvo, J. M. J. Frechet, Department of Chemistry, Cornell University, Baker Laboratory, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. J. Silcox and M. Thomas, Cornell University Materials Science Center, Clark Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. J. Elman, Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY 14650, USA.
Abstract:
The preparation and analysis of inorganic-organic polymer nanocomposites consisting of inorganic nanowires and multiwire "cables" in a random-coil organic polymer host is reported. Dissolution of inorganic (LiMo3Se3)n wires in a strongly coordinating monomer, vinylene carbonate, and the use of a rapid polymerization in the presence of a cross-linking agent produce nanocomposites without phase separation. Polymerization of dilute solutions yields a material containing mostly (Mo3Se3(-))n mono- and biwires, 6 to 20 angstroms in diameter and 50 to 100 nanometers long. Polymerization of more concentrated liquid crystalline solutions yields a nanocomposite containing oriented multiwire cables, 20 to 40 angstroms in diameter and up to 1500 nanometers long, that display optical anisotropy and electrical conductivity.
