Trapeziform ag nanosheet arrays induced by electrochemical deposition on Au-coated substrate

Trapeziform Ag nanoplate arrays are successfully fabricated on Au-coated silicon substrate by electrochemical deposition. The trapeziform Ag nanoplates are standing on the substrate and dispersed uniformly. The nanoplates are 1-2 mu m in edge length and 40 nm in thickness. Further experiments have revealed that the presence of PVP in the electrolyte and low deposition current density together with the Au-coated substrate are indispensable to fabrication of such arrays. The formation of trapeziform Ag nanoplate arrays is attributed to selectively oriented nucleation of Ag and quasi-equilibrium preferential growth on the An film-coated substrate. This study is of importance in vertical immobilization Ag nanoplates on a solid substrate, which could provide new substrates for some catalysis or surface-enhanced Raman scattering.