Fabrication of nanocables by electrochemical deposition inside metal nanotubes

We report a novel route for fabricating Au-Te nanocables. Using nanoporous polycarbonate tract-etching (PCTE) membrane as the template, Au nanotubes were fabricated by electroless Au deposition inside the nanopores of the PCTE membrane. Using the Au nanotube membrane as a second template, Te was deposited on the surfaces of the Au nanotubes by slow electrochemical deposition, taking advantage of underpotential deposition (UPD). The deposition rate was sufficiently slow to radially grow Te nanotubes coaxially within the Au nanotubes to form nanocables.