Synthesis of conjugated polymeric nanobeads for photonic bandgap materials

Polyphenylacetylene (PPA) and poly[phenylacetylene-(co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)] (P(PA/HEMA)) nanobeads with controlled dimension and low size dispersion were synthesized by a modified emulsion polymerization. A systematic study of the influence of reaction conditions on the chemical and physical characteristics of the nanobeads and on their ability to form ordered arrays was performed. In particular the following parameters were investigated: (i) the role of the co-solvent and initiator on the shape, size and dispersion of the nanobeads, (ii) the effect of the reaction time on the particles size, (iii) the effect of the PA/HEMA ratio on the surface-charge density of the co-polymer nanobeads.