Electrochemical Growth of Single-Crystal Metal Nanowires via a Two-Dimensional Nucleation and Growth Mechanism.

Tian, Mingliang; Wang, Jinguo; Kurtz, James; Mallouk, Thomas E; Chan, M H W · Nano Lett · 2003

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Metallic nanowires (Au, Ag, Cu, Ni, Co, and Rh) with an average diameter of 40 nm and a length of 3-5 μm have been fabricated by electrodeposition in the pores of track-etched polycarbonate membranes. Structural characterizations by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron diffraction showed that nanowires of Au, Ag, and Cu are single-crystalline with a preferred [111] orientation, whereas Ni, Co, and Rh wires are polycrystalline. Possible mechanisms responsible for nucleation and growth for single-crystal noble metals versus polycrystalline group VIII-B metals are discussed.