Assembly of nanotubes of poly(4-vinylpyridine) and poly(acrylic acid) through hydrogen bonding

Nanotubes of poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PVP) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) were fabricated by hydrogen bonding based on layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly. The uniform and flexible tubular structures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). FTIR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements confirm the formation of hydrogen bonds in the assembled nanotubes. PAA can be released from the assembled PAA/PVP nanotubes in a basic aqueous solution to give the walls of the tubes a porous structure. Such assembled nanotubes can be considered as carriers for catalysts or drugs, especially in aqueous solution against capillary force.