Electrochemical Deposition of Ferromagnetic Ni Nanoparticles in InP Nanotemplates Fabricated by Anodic Etching Using Environmentally Friendly Electrolyte
Călin Constantin Moise,
Geanina Valentina Mihai,
Liana Anicăi,
Eduard V. Monaico,
Veaceslav V. Ursaki,
Marius Enăchescu,
Ion M. Tiginyanu
Affiliations
Călin Constantin Moise
Center for Surface Science and Nanotechnology, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 313 Splaiul Independentei, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Geanina Valentina Mihai
Center for Surface Science and Nanotechnology, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 313 Splaiul Independentei, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Liana Anicăi
Center for Surface Science and Nanotechnology, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 313 Splaiul Independentei, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Eduard V. Monaico
National Center for Materials Study and Testing, Technical University of Moldova, Bd. Stefan cel Mare 168, 2004 Chisinau, Moldova
Veaceslav V. Ursaki
National Center for Materials Study and Testing, Technical University of Moldova, Bd. Stefan cel Mare 168, 2004 Chisinau, Moldova
Marius Enăchescu
Center for Surface Science and Nanotechnology, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 313 Splaiul Independentei, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Ion M. Tiginyanu
National Center for Materials Study and Testing, Technical University of Moldova, Bd. Stefan cel Mare 168, 2004 Chisinau, Moldova
Porous InP templates possessing a thickness of up to 100 µm and uniformly distributed porosity were prepared by anodic etching of InP substrates exhibiting different electrical conductivities, involving an environmentally friendly electrolyte. Ni nanoparticles were successfully directly deposited by pulsed electroplating into prefabricated InP templates without any additional deposition of intermediary layers. The parameters of electrodeposition, including the pulse amplitude, pulse width and interval between pulses, were optimized to reach a uniform metal deposition covering the inner surface of the nanopores. The electrochemical dissolution of n-InP single crystals was investigated by measuring the current–voltage dependences, while the Ni-decorated n-InP templates have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The proposed technology is expected to be of interest for sensing and photocatalytic applications, as well as for the exploration of their plasmonic and magnetic properties.
