The electrical properties of electrochemically fabricated nickel nanowires

grantor: University of TorontoMetallic Ni nanowires were deposited electrochemically into porous anodic alumina template. The technique produces arrays of parallel wires embedded in alumina, with a narrow distribution of pore diameters and lengths. Recently developed methods greatly improve the periodicity of the porous alumina arrays and truly make the templated fabrication of various nanostructures in AAO a viable alternative to the expensive lithographic techniques. The ordered arrangement of nanowires has been utilized to measure the resistance of single wires with the Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM). Measurements reveal high nanowire resistivity compared to the bulk Ni. It is thought to be due to the disorder of the material and possibly due to the quasi-1D effects. The electrodeposited nanowires have been characterized with Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy (SEM and TEM) electron and X-ray diffraction and density measurements.M.Sc