Silver nanostructures synthesis via optically induced electrochemical deposition.
We present a new digitally controlled, optically induced electrochemical deposition (OED) method for fabricating silver nanostructures. Projected light patterns were used to induce an electrochemical reaction in a specialized sandwich-like microfluidic device composed of one indium tin oxide (ITO) glass electrode and an optically sensitive-layer-covered ITO electrode. Silver polyhedral nanoparticles, triangular and hexagonal nanoplates, and nanobelts were controllably synthesized in specific positions at which projected light was illuminated. The silver nanobelts had rectangular cross-sections with an average width of 300 nm and an average thickness of 100 nm. By controlling the applied voltage, frequency, and time, different silver nanostructure morphologies were obtained. Based on the classic electric double-layer theory, a dynamic process of reduction and crystallization can be described in terms of three phases. Because it is template- and surfactant-free, the digitally controlled OED method facilitates the easy, low cost, efficient, and flexible synthesis of functional silver nanostructures, especially quasi-one-dimensional nanobelts.
State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
Pan
P
Li
State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
Na
N
Liu
State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China.
Haibo
H
Yu
State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
Feifei
F
Wang
State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China.
Lianqing
L
Liu
Department of Power Mechanical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Gwo-Bin
GB
Lee
State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China.
Yuechao
Y
Wang
State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China.|Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.
Wen Jung
WJ
Li