Growth and Characterization of Ordered PbO2 Nanowire Arrays

Abstract

Large arrays of nanowires having high aspect ratios (length-to-width ratio) were grown by potentiostatic electrodeposition into anodic alumina templates under anodic polarization. Different electrolytic solutions were used in order to obtain nanowires of pure , pure , and a mixture. We have found that, in a lead nitrate bath, a crystallographic structure of nanowires depends on pH; this latter was varied adding diluted nitric acid to the electrolyte. Nanowires of pure were obtained at pH 0.6, while mixed nanowires were grown at pH 2. Pure α–phase was obtained in a bath containing lead acetate at pH 6.6. In all deposition conditions, nanowires present the same morphology: perfectly cylindrical wires having uniform diameters throughout length, with an average value of and a population density on the order of wires/. Very high aspect ratios were obtained already after of electrodeposition.