Resonant Raman scattering from polyacetylene and poly(p-phenylene vinylene) chains included into hydrogenated amorphous carbon

TL;DR

This paper investigates resonant Raman scattering in hydrogenated amorphous carbon, revealing inclusions of trans-polyacetylene and PPV chains, and demonstrates that Raman response can identify these chains within complex materials.

Contribution

It provides evidence of specific polymer inclusions in amorphous carbon and shows that Raman response from trans-polyacetylene chains remains consistent regardless of excitation energy.

Findings

Inclusions of trans-polyacetylene and PPV chains identified in a-C:H.

Raman response from trans-(CH)x chains is identical to free-standing chains.

Strong dispersive mode at ca. 1175 cm-1 indicates PPV presence.

Abstract

The resonant Raman scattering in N-IR - UV range from amorphous hydrogenated carbon (a-C:H) reveal inclusions of trans-polyacetylene (trans-(CH)x) chains with approximate length of up to 120 C=C units and inclusions of poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) polymer chains. The PPV is evidenced by a strong dispersive mode at ca. 1175 cm-1. It was found that the Raman response from core Ag trans-(CH)x modes incorporated into a-C:H to changing excitation energy is identical to of free-standing chains thus facilitating identification of trans-(CH)x in complex carbonaceous materials spectra.