Electric field-directed assembly of gold and platinum nanowires from an electrolysis process

Gold and platinum nanowires have been grown on a silicon dioxide surface between two microfabricated electrodes from an electrolysis process under an AC signal with a DC offset. In the process, the anode electrode acted as a sacrificing layer and oxidized to metal ions. The metal ions were reduced to particles and aligned along the electric field forming nanowires connected with the cathode. Greater than 10 V and 12 V DC offset were required for growing gold and platinum nanowires, respectively. Other factors affecting the growth of the nanowires include frequency of applied bias and gap between the electrodes. 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.