Template-based syntheses for shape controlled nanostructures

Abstract

A variety of nanostructured materials are produced through template-based synthesis methods, including zerodimensional, one-dimensional, and two-dimensional structures. These span different forms such as nanoparticles, nanowires, nanotubes, nanoflakes, and nanosheets. Many physical characteristics of these materials such as the shape and size can be finely controlled through template selection and as a result, their properties as well. Reviewed here are several examples of these nanomaterials, with emphasis specifically on the templates and synthesis routes used to produce the final nanostructures. In the first section, the templates have been discussed while in the second section, their corresponding synthesis methods have been briefly reviewed, and lastly in the third section, applications of the materials themselves are highlighted. Some examples of the templates frequently encountered are organic structure directing agents, surfactants, polymers, carbon frameworks, colloidal sol-gels, inorganic frameworks, and nanoporous membranes. Synthesis methods that adopt these templates include emulsion-based routes and template-filling approaches, such as self-assembly, electrodeposition, electroless deposition, vapor deposition, and other methods including layer-by-layer and lithography. Templatebased synthesized nanomaterials are frequently encountered in select fields such as solar energy, thermoelectric materials, catalysis, biomedical applications, and magnetowetting of surfaces.

Multifunctional Magnetic Nanowires: Design, Fabrication, and Future Prospects as Cancer Therapeutics

“…Hard templates are extremely versatile, convenient, and are recurrently used in the synthesis of NW. The most common hard templates are anodized alumina, polycarbonate membranes, and mesoporous materials [84]. Hard templates allow for the synthesis of freestanding NW as well as both orientated and non-orientated NW.…”

Nanostructured Semiconductor Materials for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

“…Asim et al summarized the different preparation and deposition methods, which have been used for photoanode materials of DSSCs, emphasizing their advantages and disadvantages, in order to allow a researcher to carefully choose and optimize a given method [50]. Perez-Page et al [51] presented several methods based on templates for shape-controlled nanostructuring. A variety of nanostructured materials are produced through template-based syntheses, including zero-dimensional (nanoparticles), onedimensional (nanowires, nanotubes, etc.…”

“…A variety of nanostructured materials are produced through template-based syntheses, including zero-dimensional (nanoparticles), onedimensional (nanowires, nanotubes, etc. ), and two dimensional (nanoflakes and nanosheets) structures [51]. In 1995, Ying and Antonelli for the first time reported the synthesis of mesoporous TiO 2 , which was accomplished through a modified sol-gel process involving TIP (titanium isopropoxide) as a precursor [52].…”

Electroless Synthesis of Highly Stable and Free‐Standing Porous Pt Nanotube Networks and their Application in Methanol Oxidation

“…However, due to high material costs and structure‐dependency of catalytic performance, a precise control of nanostructure fabrication is required. A highly suitable and scalable approach is represented by template‐assisted synthesis methods, which allow the direct variation of the product structure, and thus facilitate tailoring the catalytic performance …”