Nano-patterned liquid metal electrode for the synthesis of novel Prussian blue nanotubesand nanowires

Abstract

We report the fabrication of Prussian blue nanotubes and nanowires via a novel techniquewherein a liquid metal surface is nano-patterned with a porous polycarbonate membraneused as a hard mask. Prussian blue as 1D nanowires and nanotubes is an excellentcandidate for ultra-low level sensing, optical waveguides and model systems to test theone-dimensional Ising model. One of the most feasible techniques for nanowire fabricationis to use a porous template. However, Prussian blue dissolves in strong acids anddecomposes in strong bases. Conventional procedures which use porous alumina blockedwith a back side metal contact require strong acid and base treatment in the varioussteps of the nanowire fabrication. We report a novel technique which will pave anew route for the facile synthesis of nanowires and nanotubes of materials thatare sensitive to strong acidic or basic treatment. Hence, nano-patterning of aliquid metal (Hg, which functions as a top-side metal contact) with polycarbonatemembrane instead of porous alumina membrane excludes the necessity of both strongacid and base during the fabrication of nanowires. By attempting this innovativetechnique, we report the synthesis of novel organic Prussian blue nanotubes andnanowires.