SUBNANOMETER-DIAMETER WIRES ISOLATED IN A POLYMER MATRIX BY FAST POLYMERIZATION

The preparation and analysis of inorganic-organic polymer nanocomposit es consisting of inorganic nanowires and multiwire ''cables'' in a ran dom-coil organic polymer host is reported. Dissolution of inorganic (L iMo3Se3)(n) wires in a strongly coordinating monomer, vinylene carbona te, and the use of a rapid polymerization in the presence of a crossli nking agent produce nanocomposites without phase separation. Polymeriz ation of dilute solutions yields a material containing mostly (Mo3Se3- )n mono- and biwires, 6 to 20 angstroms in diameter and 50 to 100 nano meters long. Polymerization of more concentrated liquid crystalline so lutions yields a nanocomposite containing oriented multiwire cables, 2 0 to 40 angstroms in diameter and up to 1500 nanometers long, that dis play optical anisotropy and electrical conductivity.