Zinc oxide growth morphology on self-assembled monolayer modified silver surfaces.
Using organic molecules to direct inorganic crystal growth has opened up new avenues for controlled synthesis on surfaces. Combined with soft lithography to form patterned templates, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have been shown to be a powerful approach for the assembly of inorganic nanostructures. In this work, we show that the surface free energy of SAM-modified silver, which depends on end groups and deposition method of SAMs, has a dramatic effect on the nucleation and growth of crystalline ZnO, a technologically important material, from supersaturated solutions. For SAMs with inert methyl end groups, ZnO nucleation is inhibited. For SAMs with chemically active (carboxylic or thiol) end groups, the ZnO morphology is found to be three-dimensional nanorods on low-surface-energy surfaces and two-dimensional thin films on high-energy surfaces.
Hsu
Julia W P
JW
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, and Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA, USA. jwhsu@sandia.gov
Clift
W Miles
WM
Brewer
Luke N
LN
D001703:Biophysics / Q000379:methods; D015392:Chemistry, Inorganic / Q000379:methods; D003460:Crystallization; D008422:Materials Testing; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D013816:Thermodynamics; D013997:Time Factors; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*
D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D012834:Silver; D015034:Zinc Oxide