Fabrication and thermal analysis of layer-by-layer micro- and nanotubes

Micro- and nanotubes created via layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly offer many new and exciting opportunities in both nanotechnology and nanoscience. The focus in this present review is to highlight practical challenges in fabricating porous and nano-cylindrical templates used to fabricate LbL tubes and to highlight new results in the area. There are inherent difficulties in constructing well defined polymer nanotubes. The first section presents general guidelines and underlying challenges to consider in the construction of LbL tubes and will focus on the ability of polyelectrolyes to diffuse into nanopores to form tubes. The second section highlights on how thermal analysis of LbL tubes can be leveraged to identify properties previously difficult to determine for LbL assemblies and the role of confinement on the glass transition and cross-linking temperature. We envision that great advances may be made particularly in the field of energy using an LbL tube approach. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.