Abstract
We report on a novel fabrication approach of metal nanowires with complex surface. Taking advantage of nodular growth triggered by the presence of surface defects created intentionally on the substrate as well as the high tilt angle between the magnetron source axis and the normal to the substrate, metal nanowires containing hillocks emerging out of the surface can be created. The approach is demonstrated for several metals and alloys including gold, copper, silver, gold–copper and gold–silver. We demonstrate that applying an electrochemical dealloying process to the gold–copper alloy nanowire arrays allows for transforming the hillocks into ring-like shaped nanopores. The resulting porous gold nanowires exhibit a very high roughness and high specific surface making of them a promising candidate for the development of SERS-based sensors.
Highlights
Improvement in nanoscience involves fundamental evolution in the synthesis and nanofabrication approaches, which allows for producing nanostructures with complex shapes and morphologies not possible to achieve using classical routes [1]
We demonstrate that applying an electrochemical dealloying process to the gold–copper alloy nanowire arrays allows for transforming the hillocks into ring-like shaped nanopores
The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) cross-section images of the Au–Cu alloy nanowires show that the hillocks exhibit the same multilayered structure observed for the main body of the nanowire (Supporting Information File 1, Figure S2)
Summary
Improvement in nanoscience involves fundamental evolution in the synthesis and nanofabrication approaches, which allows for producing nanostructures with complex shapes and morphologies not possible to achieve using classical routes [1]. The metal is deposited by magnetron sputtering over the prepared substrate to form an array of nanowires containing hillocks (Figure 1a(4)).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
