Controllable fabrication of nickel nanoparticle chains based on electrochemical corrosion

Abstract

The magnetic nanoparticle (NP) chain has attracted great concern due to its potential applications in magnetic recording, electron nano-devices, micro-mechanical sensors, and drug delivery. Here, we demonstrate the controllable preparation of magnetic Ni NP chains using electrochemical corrosion methods. Ni/Cu multi-segmented nanowires (NW) were prepared by alternately depositing Ni and Cu into the pores of an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template, then highly uniform Ni NP chains were obtained by immersing Ni/Cu NWs/AAO composite membrane in a 15 wt% NaOH solution for about 50 min. The reaction mechanism is proposed based on electrochemical corrosion, in which Cu serviced as the anode is corroded and Ni serviced as the cathode are retained in the NaOH electrolyte solution. Particle size and separation of the Ni NP chains can be easily adjusted and the smallest particle size and particle spacing reached to 6 nm and 15 nm, respectively. This strategy developed herein can be expected to be general route for the controllable fabrication of metallic NP chains.