Catalyst-free selective-area growth of vertically aligned zinc oxide nanowires

An effective method for the catalyst-free selective-area growth of single-crystalline zinc oxide nanowires on patterned substrates defined by e-beam lithography and treated by chemical etching with increased surface roughness is reported. The nanowire growth is realized via a surface-roughness-assisted vapor–solid mechanism by thermal evaporation. The nanowires are vertically aligned on sapphire and randomly oriented on silicon substrates.     

Synthesis of vertically aligned carbon nanotube arrays on polyhedral Fe/Al2O3 catalysts

Polyhedral Fe/Al(2)O(3) catalysts prepared by an impregnation method were used for the synthesis of vertically aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays from the pyrolysis of ethylene at 800 °C.     

Growing ordered arrays of vertically aligned copolymer nanowires for supercapacitors with high stability

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - In this report, we present a novel platform to study the formation of delicate ordered vertically aligned copolymer nanowires array with EDOT and Py as the...     

Facile solution route to vertically aligned, selective growth of ZnO nanostructure arrays

For any future cost-effective applications of inorganic nanostructures, in particular, hybrid photovoltaic cells, it is essential that these inorganic nanomaterials be solution processable and selectively printable. This letter reports the selective growth of single-crystal ZnO nanostructures based on the microcontact printing of an inorganic nanocrystal seeding film. The pattern-transfer quality is dependent on the concentration of the inking solution. Variable yet controllable anisotropic growth of ZnO nanowires has been demonstrated on the transferred patterns of ZnO nanocrystal films. The patterning and growth of these highly ordered arrays of ZnO nanostructures employ a simple soft lithography technique and mild reaction conditions at low temperature and in the absence of harmful organic additives.     

Low-temperature growth of vertically aligned In2O3 nanoblades with improved lithium storage properties

Vertically aligned Indium oxide (In₂O₃) nanoblades are successfully obtained through plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) approach. By using plasma, the reaction between InCl₃ and O₂ was able to take place, yielding vertically aligned blade like nanostructure. The novel In₂O₃ nanostructures exhibit improved electrochemical properties when used as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. The In₂O₃ electrode reveals reversible capacity of 580 mAh g^?1 after 100 cycles, much higher than that of the In₂O₃ thin films. The result suggests that proper structural modification of In₂O₃ thin film may contribute to the improvement of electrochemical properties. The In₂O₃ electrodes with large reversible capacity and stable cycling performance may provide new insight of anode materials applied in thin film lithium-ion batteries.     

Molecular beam-controlled nucleation and growth of vertically aligned single-wall carbon nanotube arrays

The main obstacle to widespread application of single-wall carbon nanotubes is the lack of reproducible synthesis methods of pure material. We describe a new growth method for single-wall carbon nanotubes that uses molecular beams of precursor gases that impinge on a heated substrate coated with a catalyst thin film. In this growth environment the gas and the substrate temperature are decoupled and carbon nanotube growth occurs by surface reactions without contribution from homogeneous gas-phase reactions. This controlled reaction environment revealed that SWCNT growth is a complex multicomponent reaction in which not just C, but also H, and O play a critical role. These experiments identified acetylene as a prolific direct building block for carbon network formation that is an order of magnitude more efficient than other small-molecule precursors. The molecular jet experiments show that with optimal catalyst particle size the incidence rate of acetylene molecules plays a critical role in the formation of single-wall carbon nanotubes and dense vertically aligned arrays in which they are the dominant component. The threshold for vertically aligned growth, the growth rate, the diameter, and the number of walls of the carbon nanotubes are systematically correlated with the acetylene incidence rate and the substrate temperature.     

Electrochemical modification of vertically aligned carbon nanotube arrays

Electrochemical oxidation and reduction were utilized to modify vertically aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays grown on a porous network of conductive carbon microfibers. Ultrafast and complete CNT opening and purification were achieved through electrochemical oxidation. Highly dispersed platinum nanoparticles were then uniformly and densely deposited as electrocatalysts onto the surface of these CNTs through electrochemical reduction. Using supercritical drying techniques, we demonstrate that the unidirectionally aligned and laterally spaced geometry of the CNT arrays can be fully retained after being subjected to each step of electrochemical modification. The open-tipped CNTs can also be electrochemically detached in full lengths from the supporting substrates and harvested if needed.     

Photocatalytic methane decomposition over vertically aligned transparent TiO2 nanotube arrays

We report here on a study of vertically aligned TiO(2) nanotube arrays grown by the one-step anodic oxidation technique and their photocatalytic performance for methane decomposition. Quantitative activity data as a function of film thickness is obtained.     

Facile route to alpha-FeOOH and alpha-Fe2O3 nanorods and magnetic property of alpha-Fe2O3 nanorods

alpha-FeOOH nanorods with diameters of 15-25 nm and lengths up to 170-300 nm were synthesized in high yield via a facile and template-free hydrothermal method at low temperature. After calcining the as-synthesized alpha-FeOOH at 250 degrees C for 2 h, we could obtain alpha-Fe2O3 nanorods. Interestingly, the as-obtained alpha-Fe2O3 nanorods exhibited weakly ferromagnetic characteristics at low temperature and superparamagnetic property at room temperature, which is different from the behavior of the corresponding bulk material.     

Hydrothermal growth of large-scale micropatterned arrays of ultralong ZnO nanowires and nanobelts on zinc substrate

Large-scale, ultralong ZnO nanowire and nanobelt arrays with honeycomb-like micropatterns have been fabricated by hydrothermal oxidation of zinc foil in aqueous alkaline (NH4)2S2O8 solutions.     

Catalyst-assisted vapor-liquid-solid growth of single-crystal Ga2O3 nanobelts

Mass production of quasi-one-dimensional gallium oxide nanobelts is accomplished through graphite-thermal reduction of a mixture of gallium oxide powders and SnO2 nanopowders under controlled experimental conditions. Sn nanoparticles are located at or close to the tips of the nanobelts and served as the catalyst for the nanobelt growth by a vapor-liquid-solid mechanism. The morphology and microstructure of the nanobelts were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The Ga2O3 nanobelts grow along the [104] direction, the widths ranged from several tens to several hundreds of nanometers, and the lengths ranged from several tens to several hundreds of micrometers. The growth of Ga2O3 nanobelts is initiated by Sn nanoparticles via a catalyst-assisted vapor-liquid-solid process, which makes it possible to control the sizes of Ga2O3 nanobelts.     

Uniform, dense arrays of vertically aligned, large-diameter single-walled carbon nanotubes

Precisely controlled reactive chemical vapor synthesis of highly uniform, dense arrays of vertically aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) using tailored trilayered Fe/Al(2)O(3)/SiO(2) catalyst is demonstrated. More than 90% population of thick nanotubes (>3 nm in diameter) can be produced by tailoring the thickness and microstructure of the secondary catalyst supporting SiO(2) layer, which is commonly overlooked. The proposed model based on the atomic force microanalysis suggests that this tailoring leads to uniform and dense arrays of relatively large Fe catalyst nanoparticles on which the thick SWCNTs nucleate, while small nanotubes and amorphous carbon are effectively etched away. Our results resolve a persistent issue of selective (while avoiding multiwalled nanotubes and other carbon nanostructures) synthesis of thick vertically aligned SWCNTs whose easily switchable thickness-dependent electronic properties enable advanced applications in nanoelectronic, energy, drug delivery, and membrane technologies.     

Controlled synthesis of alpha-Fe2O3 nanorods and its size-dependent optical absorption, electrochemical, and magnetic properties

Uniform alpha-Fe(2)O(3) nanorods with diameter of about 30 nm and length up to 500 nm were synthesized by a template-free hydrothermal method and a following calcination of the intermediate product in the air at 500 degrees C for 2 h. By carefully tuning the concentration of the reactants, a series of alpha-Fe(2)O(3) nanorods with gradient in aspect ratios can be obtained. The effect of the solvent was also evaluated. Based on the experimental facts, the formation mechanism of this one-dimensional structure was proposed. The size-dependent properties of the as-obtained alpha-Fe(2)O(3) nanorods were investigated. The optical absorption properties of the samples showed that the band gaps of the samples decreased in the sequence in which the size increased. The electrochemical performance of the samples showed that the discharge capacity decreased as the size of the sample increased, which may result from the high surface area and small size. The magnetic hysteresis measurements taken at 5 K showed that the coercivities of the samples were related to the aspect ratios of the samples, which may result from the larger shape anisotropy. However, the temperature-dependent field cooling magnetization showed that there was no Morin transition in the as-prepared samples, which may result from the surface effect.     

Dendron growth from vertically aligned single-walled carbon nanotube thin layer arrays for photovoltaic devices

Single-walled carbon nanotube arrays attached to conductive transparent electrodes have previously shown promise for use in photovoltaic devices, whilst still retaining light transmission. Here, chemical modification of these thin (<200 nm) arrays with PAMAM-type dendrons has been undertaken to enhance the photoresponse of these devices. The effect of modification on the electrode was measured by differential pulse voltammetry to detect the dendrons, and the effect on the nanotubes was measured by Raman spectroscopy. Solar simulator illumination of the cells was performed to measure the effect of the nanotube modification on the cell power, and determine the optimal modification. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was also used to investigate the equivalent electronic circuit elements of the cells. The optimal dendron modification occurred with the second generation (G-2.0), which gave a 70% increase in power over the unmodified nanotube array.     

Growth of large-area aligned molybdenum nanowires by high temperature chemical vapor deposition: synthesis, growth mechanism, and device application

Large-area aligned Mo nanowires have been grown on stainless steel substrates by high-temperature chemical vapor deposition with the use of Mo metal. The detailed physical and chemical growth processes regarding the formation of the nanowires have been investigated using mass spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and differential scanning calorimetry analysis, as well as structure analysis by electron microscopy. In reference to Gibbs energy calculation, our study reveals that the growth relies on the decomposition of MoO2 vapors through condensation of its vapor at high substrate temperatures. The aligned growth is a result of competing growth with the nanowires normal to the substrate surface reaching the final growth front. The field emission measurement and the vacuum luminescent tube study show that the Mo nanowires have potential application as electron emitters.     

Defect-pit-assisted growth of GaN nanostructures: nanowires, nanorods and nanobelts

A new method using defect-pit-assisted growth technology to successfully synthesize the high-quality single crystalline GaN nanostructures by ammoniating Ga(2)O(3) films was proposed in this paper. During the ammoniating process, the amorphous middle buffer layer may unavoidably produce some defects and dislocations. Some defect pits come out, which have the lowest surface energy and can subsequently be used as a mask/template or act as potential nucleation sites to fabricate the GaN actinomorphic nanostructures. The as-prepared products are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The results indicate that all the reflections of the samples can be indexed to the hexagonal GaN phase and the clear lattice fringes in HRTEM further confirm the growth of high-quality single-crystal GaN nanostructures. The SEM images show that the nanostructures have been realized under different experimental conditions exhibiting different shapes: nanowires, nanorods, and nanobelts. No particles or other nanostructures are found in the SEM study, demonstrating that the product possesses pure nanostructures. These nanostructures show a very good emission peak at 366 nm, which will have a good advantage for applications in laser devices using one-dimensional structures. Finally, the growth mechanism is also briefly discussed.     

Self-assembly of vertically aligned gold nanorod arrays on patterned substrates

Nanorods standing at attention! A self-assembly technique based on convective and capillary forces was used for the direct fabrication of standing arrays of gold nanorods on lithographically predefined areas. The hexagonal close-packed structure of gold nanorods creates an ideal substrate for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.     

Controllable assembly of aligned ZnO nanowires/belts arrays

We describe a simple method to assemble ZnO nanowires/belts into highly ordered arrays. ZnCu(2) alloy was used as the Zn source, which reacted with water vapor to generate ZnO nanocrystals. The reaction was performed in a mild way, which facilitated the easy control of the reaction conditions. By simply controlling the water bath temperature and carrier gas flux in our experiments, we obtained ZnO nanowires/belts aligned to form ordered arrays. The highly ordered nature of the ZnO arrays is suggested to be related both with the polarities of the H(2)O molecule and the ZnO (0001) surface. Photoluminescence (PL) microscopy revealed that the comblike structures had waveguide properties, where green light enhancement was observed at the tips of the branches. The light enhancement property reveals their promising applications as light source arrays.     

Patterned growth of vertically aligned silicon nanowire arrays for label-free DNA detection using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Patterning is of paramount importance in many areas of modern science and technology. As a good candidate for novel nanoscale optoelectronics and miniaturized molecule sensors, vertically aligned silicon nanowire (SiNW) with controllable location and orientation is highly desirable. In this study, we developed an effective procedure for the fabrication of vertically aligned SiNW arrays with micro-sized features by using single-step photolithography and silver nanoparticle-induced chemical etching at room temperature. We demonstrated that the vertically aligned SiNW arrays can be used as a platform for label-free DNA detection using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), where the inherent “fingerprint” SERS spectra allows for the differentiation of closely related biospecies. Since the SiNW array patterns could be modified by simply varying the mask used in the photolithographic processing, it is expected that the methodology can be used to fabricate label-free DNA microarrays and may be applicable to tissue engineering, which aims to create living tissue substitutes from cells seeded onto 3D scaffolds.

Patterned growth of vertically aligned ZnO nanowire arrays on inorganic substrates at low temperature without catalyst

We report an approach for growing aligned ZnO nanowire arrays with a high degree control over size, orientation, dimensionality, uniformity, and possibly shape. Our method combines e-beam lithography and a low temperature hydrothermal method to achieve patterned and aligned growth of ZnO NWs at <100degreesC on general inorganic substrates, such as Si and GaN, without using catalyst. This approach opens up the possibility of applying ZnO nanowires as sensor arrays, piezoelectric antenna arrays, two-dimensional photonic crystals, IC interconnects, and nanogenerators.