Premium
Low‐Dimensional, Hinged Bar‐code Metal Oxide Layers and Free‐Standing, Ordered Organic Nanostructures from Turbostratic Vanadium Oxide
Author(s) -
O'Dwyer Colm,
Lavayen Vladimir,
Fuenzalida David,
Lozano Harold,
Ana Maria A. Santa,
Benavente Eglantina,
González Guillermo,
Sotomayor Torres Clivia M.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.200701014
Subject(s) - materials science , nanofiber , vanadium oxide , oxide , vanadium , nanostructure , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , inorganic chemistry , chemistry , metallurgy , engineering
Both low‐dimensional bar‐coded metal oxide layers, which exhibit molecular hinging, and free‐standing organic nanostructures can be obtained from unique nanofibers of vanadium oxide (VO x ). The nanofibers are successfully synthesized by a simple chemical route using an ethanolic solution of vanadium pentoxide xerogel and dodecanethiol resulting in a double bilayered laminar turbostratic structure. The formation of vanadium oxide nanofibers is observed after hydrothermal treatment of the thiol‐intercalated xerogel, resulting in typical lengths in the range 2–6 µm and widths of about 50–500 nm. We observe concomitant hinging of the flexible nanofiber lamina at periodic hinge points in the final product on both the nanoscale and molecular level. Bar‐coded nanofibers comprise alternating segments of organic–inorganic (thiols–VO x ) material and are amenable to segmented, localized metal nanoparticle docking. Under certain conditions free‐standing bilayered organic nanostructures are realized.