Direct growth of ultra-long platinum nanolawns on a semiconductor photocatalyst

• Published in: Nanoscale research letters 2011-05, Vol.6 (1), p.380-380, Article 380
• Main Authors: Shen, Yu-Lin, Chen, Shih-Yun, Song, Jenn-Ming, Chin, Tzu-Kang, Lin, Chu-Hsuan, Chen, In-Gann
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemistry and Materials Science; Materials Science; Molecular Medicine; Nano Express; Nanochemistry; Nanoscale Science and Technology; Nanotechnology; Nanotechnology and Microengineering
• ISSN: 1556-276X; 1931-7573; 1556-276X
• DOI: 10.1186/1556-276X-6-380

A template- and surfactant-free process, thermally assisted photoreduction, is developed to prepare vertically grown ultra-long Pt nanowires (NWs) (about 30-40 nm in diameter, 5-6 μm in length, and up to 80 NWs/100 μm 2 in the wire density) on TiO 2 coated substrates, including Si wafers and carbon fibers, with the assistance of the photocatalytic ability and semiconductor characteristics of TiO 2 . A remarkable aspect ratio of up to 200 can be achieved. TEM analytical results suggest that the Pt NWs are single-crystalline with a preferred 〈111〉 growth direction. The precursor adopted and the heat treatment conditions are crucial for the yield of NWs. The photoelectrons supplied by TiO 2 gives rise to the formation of nano-sized Pt nuclei from salt melt or solution. The subsequent growth of NWs is supported by the thermal electrons which also generated from TiO 2 during the post thermal treatment. The interactions between the ions and the electrons in the Pt/TiO 2 junction are discussed in this study.