Resumen de Electrodeposition of Silver Micro- and Nanoscale Wires in the Capillaries of PDMS Stamps Modified with Hydrophilic Polymers
Wesley C. Sanders, Glen Johnson, Ron Valcarce, Peter Iles, Hunter Fourt, Kyne Drystan, Dakota Edwards, Jarom Vernon, Spencer Ashworth, Amar Barucija, Zachary Curtis
A new experiment for use in introductory nanotechnology courses is described. This experiment allows students to fabricate metallic wires with microscale lateral dimensions and nanoscale vertical dimensions. Fabrication occurs in the capillaries of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamps modified with hydrophilic polymers. This experiment provides students with an opportunity to conduct template-assisted electrodeposition of micro- and nanomaterials, utilizing a reusable template instead of the commonly used porous, anodic alumina oxide (AAO) membranes that require dissolution to examine the wires. Fabrication of the metal wires is accomplished via the reduction of metal cations in the channels of modified PDMS stamps. In addition, this experiment introduces students to characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and atomic-force microscopy (AFM). The microscale dimensions of the silver wires accommodate imaging with optical microscopy for institutions possessing limited characterization capabilities.
