Poly(Hydridocarbyne) as Highly Processable Insulating Polymer Precursor to Micro/Nanostructures and Graphite Conductors

Carbon-based electronic materials have received much attention since the discovery and elucidation of the properties of the nanotube and fullerene allotropes and conducting polymers. Amorphous carbon, graphite, graphene, and diamond have also been the topics of intensive research. In accordance with this interest we herein provide the details of a novel and facile method for synthesis of poly(hydridocarbyne) (PHC), a pre-ceramic carbon polymer reported to undergo a conversion to diamond-like carbon (DLC) upon pyrolysis and also provide electrical characterization after low-temperature processing and pyrolysis of this material. The results indicate that the strongly insulating polymer becomes notably conductive in bulk form upon heating and contains interspersed micro and nanostructures which are the subject of ongoing research.