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Microwell‐Directed Self‐Assembly of Vertical Nanowire Arrays
Author(s) -
Kirby David J.,
Smith Benjamin D.,
Keating Christine D.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
particle and particle systems characterization
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.877
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1521-4117
pISSN - 0934-0866
DOI - 10.1002/ppsc.201300260
Subject(s) - nanowire , materials science , nanotechnology , particle (ecology) , perpendicular , substrate (aquarium) , optoelectronics , self assembly , electrode , chemistry , oceanography , geometry , mathematics , geology
Vertical arrays of anisotropic particles are desired for many applications including solar cells, battery electrodes, and lasers. Partially etched nanowires (PENs) are hybrid silica nanotube/nanowires with partial metallic cores. These particles spontaneously form vertical arrays in which on average 70% of the particles are oriented perpendicular to the underlying substrate. Here, we perform PEN self‐assembly on lithographically prepared substrates patterned with square microwells having dimensions comparable to the length of the particles. Particle self‐assembly is observed both in the microwells and on the intervening surfaces. PENs both directly deposit into a well and diffuse across the surface between microwells until falling into a well. Assembly occurs as the local concentration of PENs in a well increases by these two mechanisms. Microwells provide a way to control array location on a surface and improve standing percentages up to 100% when the edge dimensions are decreased to a size approximately equal to the nanowire length. Microwells also protect against array disruption during sample drying.