Synthesis of polymer nanospheres and carbon nanospheres using the monomer 1,8-dihydroxymethyl-1,3,5,7-octatetrayne

The amphiphilic and self-polymerizable monomer 1,8-dihydroxymethyl-1,3,5,7-octatetrayne (DHMOTY) was prepared and dispersed in water by itself or with the help of phenyl trimethylamine hydroxide. Accordingly, cross-linked poly(1,8-dihydroxymethyl-1,3,5,7-octatetrayne) (polyDHMOTY) nanospheres were produced due to spontaneous polymerization of octatetrayne structures. XPS shows the presence of a large number of hydroxyl groups on the surface of polyDHMOTY nanospheres. Carbon nanospheres were generated by pyrolysis of cross-linked polyDHMOTY nanospheres at high temperatures in inert atmosphere in the yield of 60%.