ABSTRACT
Tribocharges produced by the friction of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) are formed by anionic PTFE fragments and cationic LDPE fragments following a recently disclosed mechanism. In this work, the self-assembly of LDPE fragments into cylindrical nanotubes typically 4 nm in diameter and 200–400 nm in length, with 1 nm thick walls, was observed. This new morphology for PE chains is explained considering the amphiphilic character of PE chains terminated with positive charge, with charge buried within nanotube walls, driven by surface tension, and electrostatic repulsion among PE chain ends.
