Electrochemical Templating of Metal Nanoparticles and Nanowires on Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Networks

The use of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) networks as templates for the electrodeposition of metal (Ag and Pt) nanostructures is described. Pristine SWNTs, grown on insulating SiO2 surfaces using catalyzed chemical vapor deposition, served as the working electrode. In the simplest case, electr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the American Chemical Society 2005-08, Vol.127 (30), p.10639-10647
Main Authors: Day, Thomas M, Unwin, Patrick R, Wilson, Neil R, Macpherson, Julie V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science
rheology
Electrodeposition, electroplating
Exact sciences and technology
Materials science
Methods of deposition of films and coatings
film growth and epitaxy
Physics
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Summary:The use of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) networks as templates for the electrodeposition of metal (Ag and Pt) nanostructures is described. Pristine SWNTs, grown on insulating SiO2 surfaces using catalyzed chemical vapor deposition, served as the working electrode. In the simplest case, electrical contact was made by depositing a gold strip on the SWNT substrate (device 1). Deposition of Ag and Pt over extensive periods (30 s) resulted in a high density of particles on the SWNTs, with almost contiguous nanowire formation from the Au/SWNT boundary moving to isolated nanoparticles at further distances from the contact. For direct electrochemical studies of Ag and Pt nucleation, the assembly was coated in a resist layer and a small window opened up to expose only the electrically connected SWNTs to solution (device 2). In this case, the electrochemical signature in voltammetric and amperometric studies of metal deposition was due solely to processes at the SWNTs. Coupled with high-resolution microscopy measurements (atomic force microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy), this approach provided detail on the nucleation and growth mechanisms of Ag and Pt on SWNTs under electrochemical control. In particular, Ag growth was found to be rapid and progressive with an increasing nanoparticle density with time, whereas Pt deposition was characterized by lower nucleation densities and slower growth rates with a tendency for larger particles to be produced over long times.
ISSN:0002-7863
1520-5126
DOI:10.1021/ja051320r