Electroplate used to Electroplate used to make nanostructuresmake nanostructures

Can the cathode plate Can the cathode plate be insulator?be insulator?

Electroplate System:Electroplate System:

Can the cathode plate be Can the cathode plate be coated with some coated with some conductive metal?conductive metal?

Anode: Cu

e-

e-

CuSO4

Cu2+

Power supply

Cathode:plate

More interesting: You canMore interesting: You canmake a mark on the make a mark on the deposition plate yourselfdeposition plate yourself!!!!

How do we get the Cu transferred How do we get the Cu transferred from anode to cathode??from anode to cathode??

Or

X

Why we can not use insulator to Why we can not use insulator to be cathode and why there is no be cathode and why there is no deposition on marked place??deposition on marked place??

Magic ?Magic ?

CuCuCuCu2+2++2e+2e-- CuCu2+2++2e+2e--CuCu

Anode Cathode

Cu transition with NO change of solution’s concentration!!

CuSOCuSO44

Cu

CuCu2+

e-

Why we choose Why we choose electroplate to make electroplate to make nanostructure??nanostructure??The process is easy to operate and only needs

simple equipments.

It’s easy to control the deposition rate by controlling the voltage/current.

It’s a good way to make Nanowries.It’s a good way to make Nanowries.

diblock template (1um)

goldsilicon wafer

200 nm

silicon

gold

electrodepositedCo nanowires

unfilled polymertemplate

Application

Data storage devicesData storage devices1 0 0 1 1

• Power supply• Wires• Some kind of metal rod • A conductive plate • Solution with the same kind of element

as metal rod• A marker and acetone

What we need for a What we need for a demonstration??demonstration??