Gold nanotubules arrays as new materials for sensing and biosensing:: Synthesis and characterization

Gold nanotubes were prepared by electroless deposition of the metal within the pores of polycarbonate particle track-etched membranes (PTM). The template method is particularly interesting, because it allows to include metallic constituents inside the void spaces of nanoporous host materials, nanomaterials with monodisperse diameters and controlled lengths were obtained. Different synthesis parameters, such as membrane pore diameters, different depositing time, have been investigated here. After the synthesis step, the characterization study was performed by atomic force microscopy (AFM), field emission gun-scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results show several interesting information about the growth mechanism of gold nanotubes, from the nucleation towards a 3D progressive mechanism. This offers excellent opportunities to select the best morphology of gold nanotube arrays for the assembling of smart electrochemical sensors and biosensors. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved,