Simple model of mass transfer in template synthesis of metal ordered nanowire arrays

Electrochemistry under confinement

Although the term 'confinement' regularly appears in electrochemical literature, elevated by continuous progression in the research of nanomaterials and nanostructures, up until today the various aspects of confinement considered in electrochemistry are rather scattered individual contributions outside the established disciplines in this field. Thanks to a number of highly original publications and the growing appreciation of confinement as an overarching link between different exciting new research strategies, 'electrochemistry under confinement' is the process of forming a research discipline of its own. To aid the development a coherent terminology and joint basic concepts, as crucial factors for this transformation, this review provides an overview on the different effects on electrochemical processes known to date that can be caused by confinement. It also suggests where boundaries to other effects, such as nano-effects could be drawn. To conceptualize the vast amount of research activities revolving around the main concepts of confinement, we define six types of confinement and select two of them to discuss the state of the art and anticipated future developments in more detail. The first type concerns nanochannel environments and their applications for electrodeposition and for electrochemical sensing. The second type covers the rather newly emerging field of colloidal single entity confinement in electrochemistry. In these contexts, we will for instance address the influence of confinement on the mass transport and electric field distributions and will link the associated changes in local species concentration or in the local driving force to altered reaction kinetics and product selectivity. Highlighting pioneering works and exciting recent developments, this educational review does not only aim at surveying and categorizing the state-of-the-art, but seeks to specifically point out future perspectives in the field of confinement-controlled electrochemistry.

Electrodeposition of tin nanowires from a dichloromethane based electrolyte

Tin was electrodeposited from a dichloromethane-based electrolyte at ambient temperature into gold coated anodic alumina membranes with nanoscale pores. The tin nanowires are mainly 〈200〉 aligned, together with some 〈101〉 and 〈301〉 wires. Partial filling of the structure and a distribution of wire lengths was found. Grafting of the pores with hydrophobic surface groups was trialled as a means of modifying the deposition, however, it did not increase the proportion of pores in which wires grew. Under potentiostatic conditions the limited rates of nucleation and diffusion down the 1D pores control the growth of the nanowires.

Tin was electrodeposited from a dichloromethane-based electrolyte at ambient temperature into gold coated anodic alumina membranes with nanoscale pores.

Nanobiosensing with Arrays and Ensembles of Nanoelectrodes

Since the first reports dating back to the mid-1990s, ensembles and arrays of nanoelectrodes (NEEs and NEAs, respectively) have gained an important role as advanced electroanalytical tools thank to their unique characteristics which include, among others, dramatically improved signal/noise ratios, enhanced mass transport and suitability for extreme miniaturization. From the year 2000 onward, these properties have been exploited to develop electrochemical biosensors in which the surfaces of NEEs/NEAs have been functionalized with biorecognition layers using immobilization modes able to take the maximum advantage from the special morphology and composite nature of their surface. This paper presents an updated overview of this field. It consists of two parts. In the first, we discuss nanofabrication methods and the principles of functioning of NEEs/NEAs, focusing, in particular, on those features which are important for the development of highly sensitive and miniaturized biosensors. In the second part, we review literature references dealing the bioanalytical and biosensing applications of sensors based on biofunctionalized arrays/ensembles of nanoelectrodes, focusing our attention on the most recent advances, published in the last five years. The goal of this review is both to furnish fundamental knowledge to researchers starting their activity in this field and provide critical information on recent achievements which can stimulate new ideas for future developments to experienced scientists.

Nanowire formation is preceded by nanotube growth in templated electrodeposition of cobalt hybrid nanostructures

Cobalt fluted nanowires, novel nanostructures with a diameter of 200 nm consisting of a solid nanowire base and a thin, nanotubular flute shape, were grown in track-etched polycarbonate membranes via templated electrodeposition. The structures were characterized electrochemically via cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and charge stripping, and structurally via  scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and focused ion beam cross-sectioning. Electrochemical and structural analysis reveals details of their deposition kinetics, structure, and morphology, and indicate possible mechanisms for their formation and control. These unique structures provide inspiration for an array of possible applications in electronics, photonics, and other fields.