Electrochemical Deposition of Metal Nano-Disk Structures Using the Scanning Tunneling Microscope
Abstract
Silver nanodisk structures were electrochemically deposited on graphite surfaces using a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). The deposition of metal occurs via a two-step mechanism involving the fast (2-5 microsec) formation of a 7A-deep pit in the graphite surface, followed by nucleation and diffusion limited electrochemical deposition at this pit. An electrolysis time of 50 microsec produces diffusion-limited nanostructure dimensions of approx. 200-400A in diameter and 20-50A in height. Silver nanodisk structures are stable in dilute aqueous solutions containing Ag(+) at small (approx. 20mV) sample- negative imaging biases, but are unstable with respect to dissolution at sample positive biases or when immersed in a pure water ambient (irrespective of the applied bias). The mechanism of discharge of a nanometer-scale battery consisting of copper anodes and silver cathodes is examined. Scanning tunneling microscopy, STM, Lithography, Deposition
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 13, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA282464
Entities
People
- J. A. Virtanen
- R. M. Penner
- Thien C. Duong
- Wen Li
Organizations
- University of California, Irvine