Patterned nanorod arrays produced from hydrophobically masked templates

A simple method to mask hydrophobically porous templates for patterned nanorod growth is described. Patterning was achieved by treating the template with an alkylsilane to render the pores hydrophobic, followed by irradiation with UV light to selectively degrade the alkyl siloxyl coating in the illuminated regions to produce a template with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic pores. Patterned arrays comprising a single metallic composition and multiple metallic compositions were electrodeposited in the hydrophobically masked template.