Preparation and characterization of polymer hybrid based on specific interaction between inorganic nanofiber and polymers

Inorganic nanofiber imogolite exhibits specific interaction on the surface with specific functional groups. Adsorption of sodium octadecyl sulfonate on the surface of imogolite was confirmed by IR measurement. Polymer hybrid was prepared using conjugated polymer with sulfonate groups based on imogolite nanofiber. Poly[2,5-bis(3-sulfonatopropoxy)-1,4-phenylene, disodium salt-alt-1,4-phenylene: WS-PPP] was used as water soluble conjugated polymer. The imogolite/ WS-PPP hybrid prepared with imogolite/WS-PPP weight ratio of 1/3 was dissolved in aqueous solution completely. The FE-SEM image of the hybrid (imogolite/WS-PPP=l/3) showed nanofibers with smaller diameter ?compared with nanofibers prepared at lower weight ratio. Because WS-PPP adsorbed on the imogolite surface inhibited the aggregation of each imogolitc nanofiber.