Electrochemical synthesis of lamellar structured ZnO films via electrochemical interfacial surfactant templating

Abstract

Interest in creating tunable, ordered mesoporous materials based on surfactant supramolecular templating has been increasing over the last decade. For the production of film-type mesoporous materials, the most common method currently used is sol–gel based dip-coating method, which utilizes evaporation induced self-assembly (EISA) of surfactants. A more recently developed method, electrochemical interfacial surfactant templating, exploits the interfacial surfactant assembly formed on the working electrode to electrodeposit inorganic mesoporous films. This method offers mechanisms for inorganic wall construction and amphiphilic assemblies that are quite different from those of the sol–gel dip-coating method. As a result, it offers new possibilities to produce mesoporous films that cannot be produced by other means. This paper reviews the recent advances in producing and tuning lamellar structured mesoporous zinc oxide films via electrochemical interfacial surfactant templating. The general principles of this method will be explained in comparison with other methods used for producing mesoporous films. This will be followed by discussions of the key synthesis conditions that govern the repeat unit, quality, and orientation of lamellar structures constructed during electrodeposition. This review will provide a useful foundation to further develop electrochemical interfacial surfactant templating as a versatile method to produce a broader range of mesoporous films.