Partial metal coated light emitting polymers: Direct observation of enhanced photoluminescence

The enhanced photoluminescence (PL) for the partially nickel (Ni) metal coated light emitting poly(3-methylthiophene) (P3MT) or polythiophene (PTh) hybrid nanotubes was observed and analyzed. From the laser confocal microscope PL experiments of an isolated single strand of the hybrid nanotubes, we directly observed a ∼40 times and ∼16 times enhancement of the PL peak intensity for the parts of the P3MT or PTh nanotubes that were coated with the Ni metal, compared with the PL peak intensity for the parts of the P3MT or PTh nanotubes without the Ni metal coating. These were confirmed from the laser confocal microscope PL spectra of the hybrid nanotubes. The surface plasmon resonance coupling between the light emitting P3MT or PTh nanotubes and the Ni metal nanotubes contributed to the enhancement of the PL efficiency of the hybrid nanotubes.