AVS 60th International Symposium and Exhibition
    Nanometer-scale Science and Technology Tuesday Sessions
       Session NS-TuP

Paper NS-TuP12
Thermal Stability and Optical Properties of Vertically Aligned Ag, Au, and Ag/Au Alloy Nanorods Synthesized by the Electrodeposition

Tuesday, October 29, 2013, 6:00 pm, Room Hall B

Session: Nanometer-scale Science and Technology Poster Session
Presenter: M.I. Nandasiri, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Authors: M.I. Nandasiri, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
S. Vilayurganapathy, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
G. Coffey, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
A. Joly, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
P. El-Khoury, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
T. Varga, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
A. Devaraj, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
S.A. Thevuthasan, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
W.P. Hess, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Correspondent: Click to Email
One dimensional metal nanostructures such as nanorods and nanowires have a wide range of applications in electronic, photonic and sensing devices due to their interesting linear and non-linear optical properties. The optical properties of these nanostructures are dominated by localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), which results from the oscillations of conduction electrons in response to an external field. The LSPR frequency of the electrons depends strongly on the size, shape, and distribution of the particles and the surrounding dielectric medium. Hence the electronic and optical properties of these nanostructures can be tuned by controlling the physical and chemical properties. In this study, Ag, Au and Ag/Au alloy nanorods with well controlled aspect ratios were grown on anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) templates by the electrodeposition method. One side of the AAO templates was coated with an Ag or Au layer to obtain a good electrical conductivity. The electrodeposition was carried out in the galvanostatic mode by varying the current and deposition time to optimize the properties of nanorods. Following the electrodeposition, the AAO template was etched away using 1M NaOH solution leaving behind free standing and vertically aligned nanorods. These nanorods were imaged using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to study the size, shape, and distribution as a function of the deposition time. The length of the nanorods varied as a function of deposition time allowing an excellent control over the aspect ratio. The nanorods were further characterized using x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The as-grown nanorods were also annealed at high temperatures in vacuum and characterized by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and SEM to study their thermal stability. The optical measurements of Ag, Au, and Ag/Au alloy nanorods carried out using surface enhanced Raman scattering and photoemission electron microscopy will also be discussed. This work was supported by the Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The work was conducted in the William R. Wiley Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL), a national scientific user facility sponsored by DOE’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research and located at PNNL. PNNL is operated by Battelle for the DOE under Contract DE-AC05-76RLO1830.