Symmetric and helical growth of polyacetylene fibers over a single copper crystal derived from copper tartrate decomposition.

[reaction: see text] Helical polyacetylene fibers with absolutely symmetric structures were prepared by polymerization of acetylene using copper tartrate as a catalyst. There were always only two coiled polyacetylene fibers grown on a single copper nanocrystal. The two coiled fibers had absolutely opposite helical senses but were identical in cycle number, coil diameter, coil length, coil pitch, and fiber diameter.