Polymer Nanostructure Formation by Particle Beams

Abstract

High energy charged particle irradiation of polystyrene and polysilane derivatives is shown to cause crosslinking reactions leading to the formation of a polymer gel containing cylindrical nanostructures of regular length and thickness. The deposited energy density in a charged particle track controlled the spatial distribution of crosslinks of polymer molecules. The radial variation in dose along each ion track results in the formation of cylindrical structures with nm-sized radius of the cross-section. These cylindrical structures are well visualized as worm-like structures (nanowires). The similar schema for the formation of the nanowires have been demonstrated for the charged particle irradiation of a variety of polymeric materials including π-conjugated polymers, polymers for hydrogels, and proteins. The present results represent the potential utility of this technique for single-particle fabrication of nano-structures with sub-nanometer spatial resolution.