Preparation of PPV Nanotubes and Nanorods and Carbonized Products Derived Therefrom

We report the synthesis of poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV), a polyconjugated polymer, in nanotube and nanorod shapes, and carbonized products derived therefrom. PPV tubes and rods could be prepared on the inner surface of or inside the nanopores (10-200 nm diameter) in alumina or polycarbonate membrane filters by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) polymerization method of α,α′-dichloro-p-xylene followed by thermal dehydrochlorination. The PPV nanotubes and nanorods thus obtained could be converted to the corresponding carbonized tubes and nanorods when they were subjected to thermal treatment under an argon atmosphere. Thus prepared nanoobjects were characterized by electron microscopic analyses, IR, UV-vis, and Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence fluorometry. This investigation demonstrates that, if one employs membrane filters containing cylindrical pores of uniform diameter, monodisperse nanotubes and nanorods of PPV and carbonized products thereof with controlled diameter and wall thickness can be prepared.