Preparation of metal nanotubes using MPTMS-functionalized Silica spheroid as templates

Abstract

Metal (silver, platinum and palladium) nanotubes were prepd. by the adsorption of metal nanoparticles on the functionalized silica template. To make the silica template having a spheroid shape, it was fabricated using Poly(ethylene oxides)-b-poly(propylene oxides)-b-poly(ethylene oxides)(PEO-PPO-PEO) triblock copolymer EO20PO70EO20 (P123). Silanizing agent, 3-mercaptopropyl trimethoxysilane, was treated on the surface of silica templates with thiol-terminal groups. When the temp. increases from 4 C to 80 C for the metal redn., it was more effective than the metal redn. that was conducted at room temp. The dissoln. of the silica template using 10M HF soln. could be afford the formation of self-organized metallic nanotubes. These expts. were characterized by field emission SEM (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and XPS(XPS).