Coherent kinetic control over crystal orientation in macroscopic ensembles of polymer nanorods and nanotubes.
We show that the crystal orientation in polymer nanotubes and nanorods inside porous templates is controlled by the kinetics of nucleation and growth under 2D confinement. Two clear limiting cases are identified: In separated nanostructures, any crystal orientation allowing the growth of lamellar crystals along the pores appears statistically. If a bulklike surface film connects the nanostructures, macroscopic arrays with uniform crystal orientation are obtained, in which the dominant growth direction of the crystals is aligned with the long axes of the pores of the template.
Steinhart
Martin
M
Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Weinberg 2, D-6120 Halle, Germany. steinhart@mpi-halle.de
Göring
Petra
P
Dernaika
Haissam
H
Prabhukaran
Munusamy
M
Gösele
Ulrich
U
Hempel
Elke
E
Thurn-Albrecht
Thomas
T
D003460:Crystallization; D007700:Kinetics; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000737:chemistry; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers
D011108:Polymers; D011145:Polyvinyls; C024865:polyvinylidene fluoride; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers