Characteristics and photoluminescence of nanotubes and nanowires of poly (3-methylthiophene)

We synthesized nanotubes and nanowires of pi-conjugated poly (3-methylthiophene) (P3MT) by using nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide (Al2O3) template through electrochemical polymerization method. From scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope photographs, we observed the formation of nanotubes with diameters of 100-200 nm and wall thicknesses of 5-10 nm. Relatively long nanotubes and nanowires of P3MT (about 40 mu m in length) were obtained. To discern the structural and optical properties of the systems, we measured ultraviolet and visible absorbance and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy. We observed that the doping level, the pi-pi(*) transition peak, and bipolaron peaks in P3MT nanotubes varied with synthetic temperature. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the P3MT nanotubes solution were observed at similar to 490 nm. For the P3MT nanotubes synthesized at lower temperatures, the PL peaks became sharper and the resistance decreased. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics.