Robust inorganic membranes from detachable ultrathin tantalum oxide films.
We report a simple electrochemical method of making individual free-standing and uniform tantalum oxide membranes between 35 and 100 nm thick. These films can be separated, floated on water, and transferred onto various substrates such as Si wafers, glass slides, and TEM grids. Our membranes are mechanically, chemically, and thermally robust, have a high dielectric constant, and a high refractive index, making them potentially useful in sensors, optics, filtration, and catalysis.
Department of Chemistry, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1, Canada.
Sherdeep
S
Singh
Mark T
MT
Greiner
Peter
P
Kruse
D000327:Adsorption; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D007287:Inorganic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D012031:Refractometry; D013499:Surface Properties; D013635:Tantalum / Q000737:chemistry*
D007287:Inorganic Chemicals; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010087:Oxides; D013635:Tantalum; C078151:tantalum oxide