Effective transformation of PCDTBT nanorods into nanotubes by polymer melts wetting approach

Aziz, F. and Bakar, N.A. and Bashir, S. and Alhummiany, H. and Bawazeer, T. and Alsenany, N. and Mahmoud, A. and Supangat, A. and Sulaiman, K. (2017) Effective transformation of PCDTBT nanorods into nanotubes by polymer melts wetting approach. Journal of Saudi Chemical Society, 21 (6). pp. 720-730. ISSN 1319-6103, DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jscs.2017.03.005.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jscs.2017.03.005

Abstract

In the present study, p-type conducting polymer of poly [N-9′-heptadecanyl-2,7-carbazole-alt-5,5-(4′,7′-di-2-thienyl-2′,1′,3′-benzothiadiazole)] (PCDTBT) has been explored for nanostructures. A novel approach has been adopted to transform nanorods into nanotubes by altering template-wetting methods. PCDTBT nanorods are fabricated by infiltrating porous alumina template with various solution concentrations of 5, 10 and 15 mg/ml. Upon thermal annealing PCDTBT beyond its melting point, the nanorods are transformed into nanotubes. The morphological and optical investigations reveal that the nanorods prepared with a concentration of 10 mg/ml are longer, denser, well-arranged and red shifted as compared to other nanorods. The PCDTBT nanotubes of the same concentration prepared at 300 °C are found the best among all other nanotubes with improved length, density and alignment as compared to their nanorod counterparts. Furthermore, the optical spectra of the nanotubes demonstrate broad spectral region, augmented absorption intensity and significant red-shift. The changes observed in Raman shift indicate improvement in molecular arrangement of the nanotubes. Optimization of the solution concentration and annealing temperature leads to improvement of PCDTBT nanostructures. PCDTBT nanotubes, with better molecular arrangement and broad optical spectrum, can be exploited in the state-of-the-art photovoltaic devices.

Item Type: Article
Funders: University of Malaya: University Malaya Postgraduate Research Grant (PG093-2014A), the University of Malaya High Impact Research Grant UM-MoE (UM.S/625/3/HIR/MoE/SC/26), Ministry of Education Malaysia: Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FP046-2015A)
Uncontrolled Keywords: PCDTBT; Nanorods; Nanotubes; Template; Polymer melt
Subjects: Q Science > Q Science (General)
Q Science > QC Physics
Q Science > QD Chemistry
Divisions: Faculty of Science > Department of Chemistry
Faculty of Science > Department of Physics
Depositing User: Ms. Juhaida Abd Rahim
Date Deposited: 18 Sep 2018 01:42
Last Modified: 18 Sep 2018 01:42
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/19233

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