Tuning and Enhancing Photoluminescence of Light-Emitting Polymer Nanotubes through Electron-Beam Irradiation

Abstract

A new method for the tuning and enhancing photoluminescence (PL) characteristics of light emitting poly (3-methylthiopnehe) (P3MT) nanotubes through E-beam irradiation under atmospheric environments is reported. An E-beam generated from a linear electron accelerator (T MeV, 1.6 x 10(13)-8.0 x 10(16) electrons cm(-2)) is irradiated onto P3MT nanotubes including an Al2O3 template. From laser confocal microscope (LCM) PL experiments, significant enhancements in the PL intensity-up to about 90 times of an isolated single strand of the E-beam irradiated P3MT nanotubes-are observed. The luminescent color of the P3MT nanotubes changes from green to red color depending on the variation of E-beam dosage. These results might originate from the de-doping effect and the conformational modification through E-beam irradiations. Conformational changes of the E-beam irradiated P3MT nanotubes; are confirmed by LCM single Raman and ultraviolet-visible (UV/Vis) absorption spectra. From UV/Vis absorption spectra, it is observed that the pi-pi* transition peak and the doping induced bipolaron peaks of the P3MT nanotubes dramatically vary with E-beam irradiating conditions.