Arrays of Ni nanotubes formed by an electroless deposition-template based approach: preparation and characterisation

Nanomaterials can be formed following a number of different routes. The methods employed depend on the desired properties and applications. One of the broadest and most important synthetic approaches for nanomaterials is based on templates. Templates provide a predetermined configuration or cast to guide the formation of nanomaterials with the desired morphology. After a material is formed, the template can be sacrificially removed, leaving behind the final product that replicates the morphology of the original template. Using the template-based approach, we incorporated electroless deposition of Ni with various templates, so that once the template is removed, the desired arrays are revealed. In contrast to the polycarbonate membranes, the arrays obtained from anodic aluminium oxide membranes offer several advantages such as highly ordered array, large number density of the tubes and high roughness factor. The approach is general and versatile, and provides excellent control over produced nanomaterials. In addition, the approach yields consistent nanomaterial with enhanced order.