Direct Synthesis of Multiplexed Metal‐Nanowire‐Based Devices by Using Carbon Nanotubes as Vector Templates

Abstract

We present the synthesis of metal nanowires in a multiplexed device configuration using single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as nanoscale vector templates. The SWNT templates control the dimensionality of the wires, allowing precise control of their size, shape, and orientation; moreover, a solution‐processable approach enables their linear deposition between specific electrode pairs in electronic devices. Electrical characterization demonstrated the successful fabrication of metal nanowire electronic devices, while multiscale characterization of the different fabrication steps revealed details of the structure and charge transfer between the material encapsulated and the carbon nanotube. Overall the strategy presented allows facile, low‐cost, and direct synthesis of multiplexed metal nanowire devices for nanoelectronic applications.

Copper Nanowires for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction Reaction

“…This imaginary cylinder functioned identically to the growth area of nanowires confined by carbon nanotubes in the experiment. 52 MC attempts can be divided into two parts: (i) Insertion or removal of a particle: within the MC attempts region, a new particle can be inserted or an existing particle can be removed. The probability of insertion and removal are the same, but whether to accept these attempts depends on the following criteria.…”

“…We defined a cylindrical region with a diameter of 2 nm around the nanowire as the region where MC attempts could be performed. This imaginary cylinder functioned identically to the growth area of nanowires confined by carbon nanotubes in the experiment . MC attempts can be divided into two parts: (i) Insertion or removal of a particle: within the MC attempts region, a new particle can be inserted or an existing particle can be removed.…”

“…49−51 Recently, we (Palma and coworkers) successfully grew ultrathin Cu and Cu-platinum (Pt) nanowires with a diameter of 1.5 nm using single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as the template. 52 SWNT templates controlled the size of the MNWs, allowing for precise tuning of their diameter (from 0.8 to 2 nm, for example). Moreover, Palma's method of gas-phase filling followed by thermal decomposition formed Cu NWs in the zero-oxidation state without the need for reduction.…”

“…For example, MNWs can grow in some linear templates such as the edges of surface steps, nanofibers, and porous membranes . Another strategy is to use techniques such as vapor–liquid–solid (VLS), solid–liquid–solid (SLS), and vapor–solid (VS), which are named based on the phase participated in the reaction, to control the growth of nanowires. − Recently, we (Palma and co-workers) successfully grew ultrathin Cu and Cu-platinum (Pt) nanowires with a diameter of 1.5 nm using single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as the template . SWNT templates controlled the size of the MNWs, allowing for precise tuning of their diameter (from 0.8 to 2 nm, for example).…”

Solution‐Processable Carbon Nanotube Nanohybrids for Multiplexed Photoresponsive Devices

“…In order to organize the DNA-CNTs and PbS-DNA-CNT heterostructures in device configurations, we cast the solutions on gold nanoelectrodes (pre-patterned on a SiO 2 /Si substrate) and immobilized the hybrids between these electrodes with a dielectrophoretic technique similar to what we have previously demonstrated with aptamer-CNT hybrids and metal-filled CNT hybrids. [49,50] This allowed us to immobilize on the same chip but on different electrode pairs, both DNA-CNT and PbS-DNA-CNT heterostructures. In AFM images representing the typical device configurations (Figure 2), small bundles of the DNA-CNTs and PbS-DNA-CNT hybrids can be observed which are estimated to consist of up to ≈300 DNA-CNTs and PbS-DNA-CNT hybrids (see Figure S4 in the Supporting Information for estimation details).…”