Electrodeposition of metal wires onto a molecular scale template: an in situ investigation.
We have demonstrated that the intrinsic nanometer length scales of two-dimensional molecular assemblies can be exploited to electrodeposit metal nanostructures with regular spacing and orientation. We observed evidence for preferential deposition of metals into parallel lines on Au(111) surface with a periodicity of 4.5 nm as determined by the hemimicelles formed by sodium dodecylsulfate. The preferential deposition of metals in molecular templates was achieved under optimal electrode potentials and ionic concentrations. The observed metal structures provide insight into the interactions between metal atoms, organic functional groups as well as the aqueous environment. Understanding and tailoring these interactions will lead to more precise control and new strategies for nanoscale placement and for connecting organic molecules to metal nanostructures.
Department of Chemistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, USA.
Tao
T
Ye
Kyoungja
K
Seo
Eric
E
Borguet