Template-Free Growth of Aligned Bundles of Conducting Polymer Nanowires

Aligned bundles of conducting polymer nanowires are generated in situ during the polymerization of o-anisidine. The presence of an appropriate initiator, a prolonged reaction time, and careful tuning of reaction conditions are crucial parameters for producing aligned nanowires. Mechanistic studies suggest hydrogen bonding between the substituents on the monomer and the polymer backbone is important for promoting alignment.