Electric field-directed assembly of gold and platinum nanowires from an electrolysis process

Gold and platinum nanowires have been grown on a silicon dioxide surface between two microfabricated electrodes from an electrolysis process under an AC signal with a DC offset. In the process, the anode electrode acted as a sacrificing layer and oxidized to metal ions. The metal ions were reduced to particles and aligned along the electric field forming nanowires connected with the cathode. Greater than 10 V and 12 V DC offset were required for growing gold and platinum nanowires, respectively. Other factors affecting the growth of the nanowires include frequency of applied bias and gap between the electrodes.