Non-polar polymer nanotubes and nanowires fabricated by wetting anodic aluminium oxide template

Abstract

Non-polar polymer nanotubes and nanowires were fabricated using nanoporous Anodic Aluminium Oxide (AAO) template via a physical wetting of the polymer solution and melt. Testing results of field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) demonstrate that non-polar polymer nanotubes can be prepared by polymer solution, while nanotubes and nanowires can be obtained by polymer melt at higher temperature and at lower temperature respectively. As for melt wetting method, there is a critical temperature for preparing nanotubes, and the structure of products depends on the viscosity and flowability of the polymer melt. The mechanism of melt wetting method is also discussed. © 2006 The Society of Polymer Science.