Preparation and physico-chemical properties of nickel nanostructured materials deposited in etched ion-track membrane.

by Nkosi, Mlungisi Moses

The development of finely dispersed powders and superfine-grained materials intended for application in various areas of science and engineering is one of the challenges facing modern nanotechnology. Thus, specific fundamental and applied research was required in order to consolidate advancement made in preparing nano- and submicron crystalline composite materials.

Useful templates for electrochemical deposition of nanowires include porous alumina films formed by anodic oxidation of aluminium, nuclear track-etched porous membranes, nanochannel array-glass and mesoporous channel hosts. The properties of the nanowires are directly related to the properties of the nanoporous templates such as, the relative pore orientations in the assembly, the pore size distribution, and the surface roughness of the pores. The template synthesis method, based on the use of porous polymeric and inorganic matrixes, is now actively used for synthesis of such composite materials. The method allows the chemical and/or electrochemical synthesis of nano- and microstructured tubes and wires consisting of conducting polymers, metals and semiconductors.

In this study various technological challenges relating to template synthesis and development of nickel nano- and microstructures on adequately strong and durable substrates were investigated. The two methods used were the electrochemical and chemical deposition. “