Nanoimprinting of silver metal nanostructures

Catalytic technologies have long been pivotal in chemical processes, environmental and energy industries, with applications in a multitude of areas like water purification, medicine, fuel cells and energy conversion and storage. For their high surface area to volume ratio, nanoparticles play a significant role in the field of catalysis. The ability to fabricate metallic nanostructures of good consistency and repeatability is therefore highly desired from a research and commercial perspective. Nanoimprinting offers a promising way to do so owing to its cost-effectiveness and scalability. This project aims to investigate the feasibility of ultrasonic embossing as a potential technique to facilitate the rapid, one step fabrication of such crystalline metal nanostructures. Through the release of ultrasonic energy that generates frictional heat via mechanical vibrations at the substrate surface, the mold is compressed against the metal to form nanowire arrays corresponding to the pores in the mold. Silver, a commonly used metal in catalysis due to its high oxidation ability and excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, will be the substrate material of interest in this investigation. The resulting nanowires are subsequently verified and characterized under a scanning electron microscope (SEM) so as to examine the relationship between the machine embossing parameters and the replicated features. The results show that at a parameter configuration of 12% amplitude and 800N embossing force, an optimal overall balance between nanowire length and density can be achieved.Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering