Chemical and electrochemical routes to DNA-templated rhodium nanowires. Issue 2 (24th November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mohamed, Hasan Daw A.; Watson, Scott M. D.; Horrocks, Benjamin R.; Houlton, Andrew
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 3:Issue 2(2015)
• Page Start: 438
• Page End: 446
• Publication Date: 2014-11-24
• Subjects: Materials -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Optical materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Electronics -- Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c4tc02307b
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7526

Abstract

Abstract : Both electroless and electrochemical routes to the deposition of rhodium at duplex DNA 'template' molecules provide <20 nm 1D electrically conductive metal wires. Abstract : Two methods for the preparation of rhodium nanowires are described: (i) electroless metal deposition at duplex DNA 'template' molecules in bulk solution and (ii) electrochemical reduction in DNA-containing solution at a modified electrode. Both methods render essentially similar 1D nanostructures with a Rh/Rh-oxide core–shell structure. AFM studies revealed the resulting nanostructures are typically <10 nm in diameter with continuous and smooth metal coatings. However, the latter method was less effective with samples containing an ∼3-fold increase in the bare template DNA remaining. A combination of SPM methods demonstrated the structures to be electrically conducting, hence confirming their nanowire nature. The conductivity was, however, several orders of magnitude lower than that of bulk Rh; a fact attributed to the presence of resistance-increasing mechanisms, such as grain boundaries present in the Rh coatings and electron surface scattering.