Photocatalytic Segmented Nanowires and Single-step Iron Oxide Nanotube Synthesis: Templated Electrodeposition as all-rou
- PDF / 228,150 Bytes
- 6 Pages / 612 x 792 pts (letter) Page_size
- 91 Downloads / 154 Views
1206-M01-08
Photocatalytic Segmented Nanowires and Single-step Iron Oxide Nanotube Synthesis: Templated Electrodeposition as all-round Tool Michiel G. Maas1, Eddy J.B. Rodijk1, Wouter Maijenburg1, Johan E. ten Elshof1, Dave H.A. Blank1 1 MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, Enschede, NL7500AE, The Netherlands ABSTRACT Templated electrodeposition was used to synthesize silver-zinc oxide nanowires and iron oxide (Fe2O3) nanotubes in polycarbonate track etched (PCTE) membranes. Metal/oxide segmented nanowires were made to produce hydrogen gas from a water/methanol mixture under ultraviolet irradiation. It was observed that gas production increased during irradiation. Iron oxide nanotubes were synthesized via a gel synthesis route, avoiding clogging of the membrane pores during growth. The nanotubes formed without thermal after-treatment. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) revealed a completely amorphous iron oxide structure. By demonstrating the synthesis of photocatalytically active segmented nanowire and nanotubes without post-treatment steps, templated electrodeposition can be a versatile and low cost tool for nanowires with designed functionality or fast nanotube synthesis.
INTRODUCTION One-dimensional nanostructures -such as nanowires and nanotubes- have attracted much attention over the years. Their unique physical and chemical properties make them very promising building blocks for future applications, such as nanosensors [1-3] measuring molecules or gases in nanomolars or less, optical or molecular tags [4-6] for cell tracking applications, and even self-propelling nanomotors [7-9] which, for example, can be used as nanocarriers for molecules or medicines. Each application can utilize a specific property of a nanowire or nanotube, whether it has been made of metal or oxide. However, nanowires and nanotubes will only be suitable as building blocks on the nanoscale if their quality, e.g. size distribution, crystallinity and mechanical strength, are within certain limits. Commercial implementation demands a reliable, simple and low cost technique to produce (segmented) nanowires or nanotubes. Ideally, synthesis of nanowires and nanotubes is combined in a single technique without changing steps in the process. We consider templated electrodeposition to be a viable option for this. In this contribution, we report the growth of segmented nanowires in polycarbonate track-etched (PCTE) membrane pores from a suitable electrolyte solution. Applying an overpotential initiated nanowire growth. Segments could be made of a variety of materials, for example silver and zinc oxide. The combination of silver and zinc oxide in a single nanowire enabled the production of hydrogen from a water/methanol solution under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. Nanotube formation is demonstrated by a deposition strategy that involves the formation of an iron hydroxide gel and a drying step to yield iron oxide (Fe2O3) nanotubes, but no thermal
Data Loading...
