(5s) Electrochemical Principle-Enabled Nanostructure Synthesis for Catalysis, Hydrogen Generation, and Functional Nanodevices

Traditional electrochemistry-based synthesis, as a powerful tool, has shown great potential to guide many novel nanomaterial fabrications. In the present study, we demonstrate two such examples and their related applications. First, a new template material of Aluminum nanoparticles is applied to fabricate nanostructures through galvanic replacement reaction. Nanoshells and nanoporous structures from nickel, cobalt, copper, and precious metals are generated from such process. The underlining mechanism for the replacement reaction is believed to be a galvanic replacement reaction process. This means that a galvanic cell is formed within each individual nanoparticle, and electron flow within the metallic nanoparticles, oxidizing the inner Al material and reducing metal ions on the nanoparticle outer shell. These novel nanostructures have great potential in catalysis and fuel cell applications due to their large surface area. Second, porous template materials were used for electrodeposition in fabricating functional nanorods and nanowires. These nanorods/nanowires are promising building blocks to be used for nanoelectronic device fabrication through low melting point soldering materials. These nanosolder materials could form robust interconnects between nanocomponents and nanocomponents and also between nanocomponents and patterned substrates.