A general route to macroscopic hierarchical 3D nanowire networks

Abstract

Pulling the rug out! A templated electro-deposition technique has been applied to prepare stable 3D, organized networks of metal or semiconductor nanowires (see scheme). The process involves a) the deposition of mesoporous silica onto an electrode, b) the introduction of metals or semiconductors into the pore channels, and c) removal of the silica template to yield the nanowire network.