Synthesis of Cobalt Nanowires on Porous Anodic Alumina Template Using Electrochemical Deposition

C.K Chung,I.C Chung,C.H Tsai,C.R Hsu,S.H Wu

doi:10.6000/2369-3355.2015.02.03.2

Abstract

Electrochemical deposition has been widely used for synthesis of metal nanowires (NWs) on the porous template. In this paper, the effect of potential and electrolyte concentration on cobalt (Co) NWs formation through porous anodic alumina template has been investigated using direct-current electrodepostion at 0.75~2 V together with the high 0.5 M and low 0.1 M cobalt sulfurate based electrolyte. Scanning electron microscopy and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction were used to examine the nanostructure, morphology and phase of Co NWs. The current vs time curve was recorded for understanding the growth behavior. Too low potential of 0.75 V is not favored for Co NWs formation due to insufficient driving force while too high potential of 2 V ruins the NWs growth owing to hydrogen generation in reduction reaction. The uniform crystalline Co NWs can be obtained by the proper potential of 1V and concentration of 0.5 M at an average growth rate of 964 nm/min.

Highlights

Electrochemical deposition has been widely used for synthesis of metal nanowires (NWs) on the porous template
The commercial anodic aluminum oxide (Whatman Anodisc, England) template with the nominal avearge pore diameter of about 200 nm and thickness of 60 μm was used for electrochemical deposition of Co NWs
The reaction potential of Co NWs through 200 nm anodic aluminium oxide (AAO) is between 0.75 V and 1 V

Summary

INTRODUCTION*

Nanostructured materials are of great interest in theoretical physics, solid state science and technological applications. The one-dimensional nanomaterials, especially one-dimensional magnetic metal or metal oxide materials, have attracted much attention because of their specific magnetic [1-3], capacitance [4], optical [5] and biocompatible [6] properties for fundamental research and potential applications. Methods used to produce metallic nanowires (NWs) can be categorized as both the lithography-etching patterning method [7] and the ‘template synthesis’ one [8-10]. The former is comparatively complex, expensive and not suitable for large scale production while the latter involves electrochemically depositing metal into nanopores of the template. The anodic aluminium oxide (AAO) template [11-15] has been widely studied for various categories due to its remarkable properties such as

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION