Fabrication Of Rectangular Microtubes Based On Triphenylimidazole Derivatives

In recent years, one-dimensional (1D) hollow tubular nanostructures based on smallorganic molecules have captured the growing interest of researchers because of theirpeculiar optical and electronic properties combined with low densities and highsurface areas properties. However, organic tubes prepared thus far are eitheramorphous or moderately polycrystalline and usually have a circular cross section. Inthis work, we describe the fabrication of the rectangular microtubes from2-(4’-((4’-vinylbenzyl)-oxyl)-phenyl)-4,5-diphenylimidazole (VPD) by self-assembly and withthe assistance of copolymer, poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide)-b-poly(N-isopropylacryl-amide)(PDMA-b-PNIPAM). The size of the as-fabricated VPD microtubes can bereadily controlled by adjusting the experimental conditions such as the concentrationof the initial solution.(1) Polymer-assisted fabrication of crystalline rectangular microtube of triphenyl-imidazole derivative. A self-assembly technique assisted with PDMA-b-PNIPAM isdeveloped to fabricate crystalline microtubes of VPD. The prepared VPD microtubesare identified to have a hollow tubular structure with a rectangular cross section. Thelength of the VPD microtubes can be readily controlled by adjusting the concentrationof VPD. Furthermore, the VPD microtubes exhibit interesting size-dependent opticalproperty, of which the UV-vis absorption band shows an obvious red shift comparedto that of the monomer. These results should be significant in triphenylimidazolederivatives crystallization and their potential applications in optoelectronic devices.(2) Fabrication of rectangular microtube of triphenylimidazole by self-assembly. Adirect self-assembly technique is developed to fabricate crystalline microtubes ofVPD.The length and diameter of the VPD microtubes can be readily controlled byadjusting the concentration and volume of VPD. Furthermore, both VPD nanrods andnanotubes can be prepared by varying the reaction temperatures, which indicates thatthe tubular structure is obtained through the etching of VPD by THF.