INOR 317 |
| Amphiphilic rods of gold and cross-linked poly((2-terthiophenyl)norbornene) have been synthesized with varying sectional compositions, diameters, and lengths. The rods are synthesized in the pores of a silver-coated anodic alumina oxide (AAO) membrane by alternately electrodepositing gold and oxidatively cross-linking the terthiophenyl side chains of poly((2-terthiophenyl)norbornene). The diameter of rods fabricated in this manner is controllable by pore size of the AAO disks, which can be tuned from several hundred to less than 50 nm, while rod length is controlled by the total amount of charge deposited. Upon separation from the AAO membranes, these rods aggregate into bundles and sheets that can be broken up into individual rods with surfactants, allowing for direct visualization. Individual rods have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and visual/fluorescence microscopy when their sizes permit. Fluorescence studies show that the photophysical properties of the polymer-only rods are similar to that of native polythiophene. Polymer fluorescence can be attenuated by the metal component in gold-polymer rods, allowing for the tuning of fluorescence behaviors. Visual microscopy (left) and SEM (right) images of Au/polymer/Au rods are shown in the figure below.
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Nanoscience: Applications
7:00 PM-10:00 PM, Sunday, 10 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Hall D, Poster
Division of Inorganic Chemistry |
