Electrochemical synthesis of highly oriented layered zinc hydroxide with intercalated p-aminobenzoic acid

Highly oriented crystalline Zn(OH)(2)/p-aminobenzoic acid nanolaminates are fabricated on solid supports by cathodic electrodeposition. The growth condition is very mild, involving no organic solvent. The nanolaminates have superhydrophobic surface and are transparent in the range of the visible light. The nanolaminates electrodeposited on silicon substrates behave like multiquantum well structures, exhibiting unique optical properties which are not seen in either zinc hydroxide or p-aminobenzoic acid crystals.