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Updated: Mar 14, 2026
Synthesis of Substrate-Bound Au Nanowires Via an Active Surface Growth Mechanism
Published on: July 18, 2018
Electrochemical Growth of Single-Crystal Metal Nanowires via a Two-Dimensional Nucleation and Growth Mechanism
Mingliang Tian1, Jinguo Wang1, James Kurtz1
1The Materials Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802-6300, Department of Physics, 104 Davey Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802-6300, and Department of Chemistry, 108 Davey Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802-6300.
Abstract:
Metallic nanowires (Au, Ag, Cu, Ni, Co, and Rh) with an average diameter of 40 nm and a length of 3-5 μm have been fabricated by electrodeposition in the pores of track-etched polycarbonate membranes. Structural characterizations by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron diffraction showed that nanowires of Au, Ag, and Cu are single-crystalline with a preferred [111] orientation, whereas Ni, Co, and Rh wires are polycrystalline. Possible mechanisms responsible for nucleation and growth for single-crystal noble metals versus polycrystalline group VIII-B metals are discussed.
