CHED 285 |
| In recent years, polyaniline has been shown to be readily prepared as uniform nanofibers by simple synthetic procedures. We are investigating how ring-substitution on aniline influences nanoscale morphology. Electron microscopy has revealed that under the same conditions that yield polyaniline nanofibers, polymerization of methoxy-substituted o-anisidine yields only irregular clusters. Further, while methyl-substituted o-toluidine produces nanofibers from reactants at hundredth-molar concentrations, tenth molar concentrations yield microspheres with smooth surfaces and highly porous interiors. The variety of morphologies suggests that the molecular structure and conformation of the polymer play a significant role in the formation of these nanoscale materials. |
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Undergraduate Research Poster Session
2:30 PM-4:30 PM, Monday, August 20, 2007 BCEC -- Exhibit Hall - B2, Poster
Division of Chemical Education |