Recent advances in synthesis, physical properties and applications of conducting polymer nanotubes and nanofibers
Résumé
This article summarizes and reviews the various preparation methods, physical properties, and potential applications of one-dimensional nanostructures of conjugated polyaniline (PANI), polypyrrole (PPY) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT). The synthesis approaches include hard physical template method, soft chemical template method, electrospinning, and lithography techniques. Particularly, the electronic transport (e.g., electrical conductivity, current-voltage (I-V) characteristics, magnetoresistance, and nanocontact resistance) and mechanical properties of individual nanowires/tubes, and specific heat capacity, magnetic susceptibility, and optical properties of the polymer nanostructures are presented with emphasis on size-dependent behaviors. Several potential applications and corresponding challenges of these nanofibers and nanotubes in chemical, optical and bio-sensors, nano-diodes, field effect transistors, field emission and electrochromic displays, super-capacitors and energy storage, actuators, drug delivery, neural interfaces, and protein purification are also discussed.