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An Electrochemical Bottom‐Up Approach to Producing Nanostructured Electrodes Based on Nanocolumnar ZnO Acting as a Self‐Assembled Template
Author(s) -
Finke Alexandre,
Poizot Philippe,
Guéry Claude,
Mazouzi Driss,
Tarascon JeanMarie
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.200800638
Subject(s) - materials science , nanopillar , nanoporous , nanorod , electrode , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , nanodot , dissolution , copper , substrate (aquarium) , electrochemistry , nanostructure , aqueous solution , metallurgy , organic chemistry , chemistry , oceanography , geology , engineering
An Fe 3 O 4 /Cu nanostructured prototype electrode was developed from a 100% bottom‐up approach thanks to an original three‐step electrodeposition procedure that enlists 1) the growth of a ZnO nanocolumnar template, 2) the filling of the template voids by copper prior to the dissolution of the zincite nanopillars, and 3) the plating on the remaining copper nanodots of the Fe 3 O 4 phase. The key technological point is that ZnO readily forms nanorod arrays by self‐assembly when an aqueous solution of Zn II , saturated by dioxygen, is cathodically polarized. The as‐obtained inorganic solid template is sufficiently stable for further deposition steps of any kind (metals, oxides, polymers, and so on) but is easy to remove in both acidic and alkaline media. The self‐supported Fe 3 O 4 /Cu nanostructured electrode shows, besides sustained capacity retention, outstanding rate capability when electrochemically tested versus Li. This original and soft process, derived from template‐assisted synthesis, avoids fixing (mechanically) a nanoporous membrane on the substrate, thus, enabling nanostructural design on shapeless surfaces.