8 research outputs found
pi-Conjugation and conformation in a semiconducting polymer: small angle x-ray scattering study
Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) in
poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (MEH-PPV) solution
has shown the important role of pi-electron conjugation in controlling the
chain conformation and assembly. By increasing the extent of conjugation from
30 to 100 %, the persistence length (l_p) increases from 20 to 66 Angstrom.
Moreover, a pronounced second peak in the pair distribution function has been
observed in fully conjugated chain, at larger length scales. This feature
indicates that the chain segments tend to self-assemble as the conjugation
along the chain increases. Xylene enhances the rigidity of PPV backbone to
yield extended structures, while tetrahydrofuran solvates the side groups to
form compact coils in which the l_p is much shorter.Comment: accepted (J. Phy. Cond. Mat.
Correlated conformation and charge transport in multiwall carbon nanotube - conducting polymer nanocomposites
The strikingly different charge transport behaviors in nanocomposites of
multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and conducting polymer polyethylene
dioxythiophene - polystyrene sulfonic acid (PEDOT-PSS) at low temperatures are
explained by probing their conformational properties using small angle X-ray
scattering (SAXS). The SAXS studies indicate assembly of elongated PEDOT-PSS
globules on the walls of nanotubes, coating them partially thereby limiting the
interaction between the nanotubes in the polymer matrix. This results in a
charge transport governed mainly by small polarons in the conducting polymer
despite the presence of metallic MWNTs. At T > 4 K, hopping of the charge
carriers following 1D-VRH is evident which also gives rise to a positive
magnetoresistance (MR) with an enhanced localization length (~ 5 nm) due to the
presence of MWNTs. However, at T < 4 K, the observation of an unconventional
positive temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR) is attributed to small
polaron tunnelling. The exceptionally large negative MR observed in this
temperature regime is conjectured to be due to the presence of quasi-1D MWNTs
that can aid in lowering the tunnelling barrier across the nanotube - polymer
boundary resulting in large delocalization.Comment: Accepted J. Phys.: Condens. Matte
Modified conformation and physical properties in conducting polymers due to varying conjugation and solvent interactions
Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies of poly2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (MEH-PPV) with varying conjugation, and polyethylene dioxythiophene complexed with polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT-PSS) in different solvents have shown the importance of the role of pi-electron conjugation and solvent-chain interactions in controlling the chain conformation and assembly. In MEH-PPV, by increasing the extent of conjugation from 30 to 100%, the persistence length (l(p)) increases from 20 to 66 angstrom. Moreover, a pronounced second peak in the pair distribution function has been observed in the fully conjugated chain, at larger length scales. This feature indicates that the chain segments tend to self-assemble as the conjugation along the chain increases. In the case of PEDOT-PSS, the chains undergo solvent induced expansion and enhanced chain organization. The clusters formed by chains are better correlated in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution than water, as observed in the scattered intensity profiles. The values of radius of gyration and the exponent (water: 2.6, DMSO: 2.31) of power-law decay, obtained from the unified scattering function (Beaucage) analysis, give evidence for chain expansion from compact (in water) to an extended coil in DMSO solutions, which is consistent with the Kratky plot analysis. The mechanism of this transition and the increase in dc conductivity of PEDOT-PSS in DMSO solution are discussed. The onset frequency for the increase in ac conduction, as well as its temperature dependence, probes the extent of the connectivity in the PEDOT-PSS system. The enhanced charge transport in PEDOT-PSS in DMSO is attributed to the extended chain conformation, as observed in the SAXS results
Variations in Magnetic Properties of Nanostructured Nickel
The magnetic properties of carbon nanotube encapsulated nickel nanowires (C. E. nanowires of diameter similar to 10 nm), and its comparison to other forms of Ni are carried out in this work. The saturation magnetization (M-s) and coercivity (H-c) for C. E. nanowires are 1.0 emu/g and 230 Oe. The temperature dependence of coercivity follows T-0.77 dependence indicating a superparamagnetic behavior. The field-cooled and zero-field-cooled plots indicate that the blocking temperature (T-B) similar to 300 K. These altered magnetic properties of C. E. nanowires are mainly due to the nanoscale confinement effect from carbon nanotube encapsulation. The shape and magnetic environment enhance the total magnetic anisotropy of C. E. nanowires by a factor of four