An Efficient Silver Etchant for the Fabrication of Active Nanowires Using Anodized Aluminum Oxide Templates

We report an efficient silver etchant in the fabrication of active nanowire structures by the electroplating technique using an anodized aluminum oxide template. These active nanowires include solder materials (low melting point metals or metal alloys) and magnetic materials. Single-or multisegmented nanowires with these active materials have been prepared using the new etching solution. A conducting polymer such as polypyrrole can also be fabricated onto these nanowires to enable hybrid structures and interfaces. These multisegmented active nanowires open a new platform in the fabrication and integration of nanowire-based electronics and hybrid devices. (C) 2010 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.3418612] All rights reserved.