Fabrication of conjugated polymer hybrid thin films with radially oriented aluminosilicate nanoflbers by spin-assembly

Multilayer hybrid films of imogolite nanofibers and water-soluble poly(p-phenylene) (WS-PPP) were prepared by two assembly methods. Layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly and spin-assembly were applied to fabricate the hybrid films. The deposited amount of WS-PPP per thickness was not significantly different between the two methods. However, the spin-assembly method gave significant orientation of imogolite nanofibers aligned in the radial direction, while imogolite nanofibers were randomly networked in the LBL film. The results suggested that lyotropic mesophase of imogolite and centrifugal and shear forces influenced a self-assembly of imogolite fibers oriented in a force-inducing direction.