| A novel topochemical route to single walled carbon nanotubes is proposed. This approach uses the crystal controlled solid-state polymerization of certain cyclic polydiacetylene monomers to provide organic nanotubes in which the polydiacetylene blocks are connected by covalent ring segments.; Mapping the carbon atoms of the cyclic oligomer onto the network of the carbon nanotube is used to identify cyclic monomers that are topologically suitable for the transformation into the targeted carbon nanotube, after undergoing the 1, 4 addition polymerization. The network connectivity of the polymer (organic nanotube) must directly correspond to the targeted carbon nanotube. Both organic and carbon nanotube must have the same number of carbon atoms and carbon-carbon connectivity except for the bonds that will be broken and the bonds that will be formed.; Different polydiacetylene precursors that are topologically suitable for transformation into the target organic nanotube have been synthesized, characterized and polymerized. Organic nanotubes were characterized using Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy.; Substituent extrusion techniques to covert organic nanotubes to the desired carbon nanotubes are also discussed. |
