Segmented nanotubes and nanorods exhibiting a variation in their composition along their long axes represent a new and exciting class of nanomaterials. It is shown that bidirectional template wetting enables the integration of functional and complex polymeric materials into segmented nanofibers. First, a template is wetted under conditions in which a solid polymeric thread with adjustable length fills a pore segment starting from one template surface. Subsequently, a second wetting step starting from the opposite template surface yields segmented nanofibers. The exploitation of different wetting mechanisms results in the formation of tube/rod hybrid nanofibers.
Nanoporous and macroporous templates were simultaneously infiltrated from both of their opposite surfaces using model polymers labeled with fluorescent probes or bearing probe molecules detectable by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy by precursor wetting. Face-to-face wetting with polymeric solutions resulted in partial mixing of both components, leading to tubular nanostructures characterized by a longitudinal composition gradient. Mixing of the components infiltrated from the opposite surfaces could be prevented by face-to-face wetting with polymeric melts, leading to the formation of tubular components predominantly consisting of the pure components that were separated by sharp interfaces.
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