Fabrication and Applications of Conducting Polymer Nanotube, Nanowire, Nanohole, and Double Wall Nanotube

Abstract

We fabricated nanotubes, nanowires, and double wall nanotubes (DWNTs) of (semi) conducting poly (3,4- ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), poly ( p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV), and polypyrrole (PPy) through electrochemical polymerization or chemical vapor deposition method by using Al 2O 3 nanoporous template. The formation of the nanotubes, nanowires, and DWNTs was confirmed by SEM and TEM images. The formation of tube or wire, the length, and the thickness of wall of the nanotubes were controlled through various synthetic conditions, such as polymerization time and applied current (or voltage). Inorganic ferromagnetic Ni or organic light emitting PPV materials was synthesized outside or inside the conducting polymer nanotube as the form of DWNT. Two PL peaks were observed for carbonized PPV/light emitting PPV DWNTs. We fabricated nanoholes on the surface of conducting PEDOT-PSS [poly (4-styrenesulfornate)] films through high-energy ion irradiation. For electrical and optical properties of the nano-systems, I-V characteristics curves and UV/Vis absorbance spectra were measured. The UV/Vis absorbance spectrum of PPy nanowires varied with the dissolving solvent of template. The applications of the nanotubes, nanowires, and nanoholes of conducting polymers to electrode of capacitor and to nanotip emitters of field emission (FE) are presented.