Bis-<i>o</i>-diynylarene (BODA) Derived Polynaphthalenes as Precursors to Glassy Carbon Microstructures

Bis-o-diynylarene (BODA) monomers polymerize by a step growth addition type mechanism providing branched polynaphthalene oligomers which contain reactive o-diyne terminal groups. The reactive oligomers have been successfully melt micromolded using the MIMIC protocol. Microstructures are carbonized to electrically conductive glassy carbon at 1000 °C. The highly aromatic nature of the precursor thermoset offers a high-yield route to glassy carbon microstructures with <25% weight loss by TGA and ca. 15% linear shrinkage of the microstructures by SEM.