Aluminum Nanowire Arrays via Directed Assembly.

Nesbitt, Nathan T; Merlo, Juan M; Rose, Aaron H; Calm, Yitzi M; Kempa, Krzysztof; Burns, Michael J; Naughton, Michael J · Nano Lett · 2015

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Freestanding and vertically-oriented metal nanowire arrays have potential utility in a number of applications, but presently lack a route to fabrication. Template-based techniques, such as electrodeposition into lithographically defined nanopore arrays, have produced well-ordered nanowire arrays with a maximum pitch of about 2 μm; such nanowires, however, tend to cluster due to local attractive forces. Here, we modify this template fabrication method to produce well-ordered, vertically-oriented, freestanding Al nanowire arrays, etched from an underlying Al substrate, with highly tunable pitch. In addition, optical measurements demonstrated that the nanowires support the propagation of surface plasmon polaritons.