No abstract

The synthesis of poly(hydridocarbyne), one of a class of carbon-based random network polymers and a structural isomer of polyacetlyene, is reported. The network backbone of this polymer is primarily composed of tetrahedrally hybridized carbon atoms, each bearing one hydride substituent and linked via three carbon-carbon single bonds into a three-dimensional random network of fused rings. This atomic-level carbon network backbone confers unusual properties on the polymer, including facile thermal decomposition to form diamond or diamond-like carbon high-quality films at atmospheric pressure, by direct deposition or by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), without the use of hydrogen or any other reagent.

A biomimetic in-situ synthesis of PbS in PEO has been devised, which produces composites in which the inorganic phase can display regularity of morphology and crystallographic orientation. This in-situ synthesis of PbS in a PEO film has also produced two previously unknown phases of lead sulfide, one of which can be described as "compressed" galena (PbS), the other is a new form of lead disulfide (PbS 2 ).