Morphology of Pristine Poly (Acetylene) Obtained by Luttinger's Catalyst

Poly (acetylene) was jprepared as freestanding mechanically stable film using Luttinger's catalyst. The cis isomer formed initially is stable during storage at room temperature over many days. Electron micrographs show a loose conglomerate of irregularly shaped platelets with a diamjeter of several ten nanometers and a thickness of less than 10 nm. Electron diffraction on the cis form shows the chain axes perpendicular to the lamella surface. Annealing conver ts the polymer into the trans isomer. Morphological changes are not observed. The chanins however tilt in the course of the phase transition associated with the isomerization. Films of the material obtained by Luttinger's cataltyst show essentially the same electrical and mechanical behavior as the ones prepared by a Shirakwa-technique.