Light-emitting color barcode nanowires using polymers: nanoscale optical characteristics.
We report on the light-emitting color barcode nanowires (LECB-NWs), which were fabricated by alternating the electrochemical polymerization of light-emitting polymers with various luminescence colors and efficiencies. The nanoscale photoluminescence characteristics of LECB-NWs were investigated using a laser confocal microscope with a high spatial resolution. The alternating light emissions of the LECB-NWs showed orange-yellow, red, and green colors due to the serial combination of poly(3-butylthiophene), poly(3-methylthiophene), and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), respectively, with distinct luminescence intensities. The optical detection sensitivity and stability of LECB-NWs have been enhanced through a nanoscale Cu metal coating onto the NWs, based on surface plasmon resonance coupling and protection against oxidation. The flexibility of the LECB-NWs has been investigated through the folding and unfolding of the NWs by an applied nanotip impetus. The flexible LECB-NWs can be used as highly sensitive optical identification nanosystems for nanoscale or microscale products with complex physical shapes.
Park
Dong Hyuk
DH
Department of Physics, Korea University, Seoul 136-713, Korea.
Hong
Young Ki
YK
Cho
Eun Hei
EH
Kim
Mi Suk
MS
Kim
Dae-Chul
DC
Bang
Jihee
J
Kim
Jeongyong
J
Joo
Jinsoo
J
D003116:Color; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry; D004548:Elasticity; D001330:Electronic Data Processing / Q000379:methods*; D004735:Energy Transfer; D008027:Light; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D053770:Nanowires / Q000737:chemistry*; D055620:Optical Phenomena; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
D011108:Polymers; D003300:Copper