Single-handed Helical Nanotubes Research Articles

Preparation of single-handed helical and C-shaped 3-aminophenol-formaldehyde resin nanotubes and single-handed helical carbonaceous nanotubes

Single-handed helical and C-shaped 3-aminophenol-formaldehyde resin nanotubes were prepared via a supramolecular templating approach. The chiral templates and 3-aminophenol were initially organized into helical nanoribbons, followed by the adsorption of formaldehyde onto the surfaces of the helical nanoribbons. Subsequent to polymerization and further thermosetting of the resin oligomers, 3-aminophenol-formaldehyde resin nanotubes were obtained after removing the templates. When low amounts of 3-aminophenol were added, straight C-shaped 3-aminophenol-formaldehyde resin nanotubes were obtained. Increasing the amount of added 3-aminophenol led to the formation of single-handed helical nanotubes instead. When the single-handed helical resin nanotubes were carbonized at 900 °C under Ar, single-handed helical carbonaceous nanotubes were obtained. Raman spectrum indicates that this carbon is predominantly amorphous. Circular dichroism spectra illustrate that both the helical resin nanotubes and the carbonaceous nanotubes exhibit optical activity. This work indicates that the added amount and the edge-adsorption mode of the precursors on the templates determine the final morphology and chirality of the products.