Inclusion complex formation between a conducting polymer, polyaniline (PANI) with emeraldine base, and a molecular nanotube synthesized from α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) has been studied by atomic force microscopy. We observed a rodlike inclusion complex of PANI and the molecular nanotube on mica substrate at room temperature. The height of this structure is nearly equal to the outside diameter of α-CD and almost uniform along the whole length of the structure, which indicates that a conducting wire of PANI is fully covered by molecular nanotubes as insulator. Accordingly, this inclusion complex can be regarded as insulated molecular wire.

We have deposited Si-incorporated diamond-like carbon (DLC) films by radio-frequency plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition using methane, argon, and monomethylsilane (MMS; CH 3 SiH 3 ) as a silicon source, and have investigated the structural and mechanical properties of the films. The deposition rate and Si atomic fraction [Si=ðSi þ CÞ] in the DLC films increased with increasing MMS flow ratio. The Si fraction was approximately 13% at a MMS flow ratio [MMS=ðMMS þ CH 4 Þ] of 3%, showing that the deposition using a combination of CH 4 and MMS produces films with high Si content compared with those deposited using conventional C and Si sources. The Si fraction was also found to increase with a decrease in Ar flow rate under a constant MMS flow ratio. Many particles composed mainly of Si, whose size was 0.3 -1 mm in diameter, were observed on the surface when deposition was carried out at MMS flow ratios of 15 and 30%. Compressive internal stress in the films decreased with the MMS flow ratio and/or with the Ar flow rate. The decrease in internal stress is probably due to the relaxation of a three-dimensional rigid network by the formation of Si-C and Si-H bonds in the films as well as Ar þ ion bombardment.

A polymer is used as a source of fertilizer. To demonstrate the viability of this concept, the chemical recycling of poly(isosorbide carbonate) (PIC) is presented as a model for the next generation of plastic-recycling systems.

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