Arrays of silica nanowires and nanotubes have attracted much attention due to their prospective applications in future advanced nano-optoelectronic devices. Silica nanotubes can also be used in biology research as markers for detection and imaging as well as protein-bound particles for drug delivery.
Silica nanostructures have been fabricated by photolithographic etching, vapour- liquid- solid growth, laser ablation, chemical vapour deposition, thermal evaporation, template growth and also sol-gel processes.
In this study, an electrochemical deposition method was developed for the fabrication of arrays of silica nanotubes inside anodized aluminium oxide nanoporous matrices. The deposition was performed under both constant current and constant potential conditions. For comparison and additional analysis, thin films of silica were deposited on gold and platinum plate electrodes.
Samples were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopes equipped with EDX systems for elemental analysis. Infrared spectroscopy was used to determine the type of chemical bonds present in the samples. The photoluminiscent properties of the fabricated samples were also examined.
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