Electrodeposition of Bi_1−xSb_x Nanowires as an Advanced Material for Thermoelectric Applications

Abstract

This paper focuses on the electrodeposition of high density nanowire arrays in porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. A two step anodization technique was used to develop a template for Bi_1-xSb_x nanowire growth directly on Si substrates. Uniform pores with virtually no grain boundaries were achieved. Fundamental electrochemistry experiments on Bi³⁺, Sb³⁺, and both cations in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were carried out to characterize the ideal chronopotential pulse and to determine the thermodynamic, diffusion and mass transport issues when plating Bi_1-xSb_x into nano dimension pore structures. Such chronopotentiometry resulted in uniform nanowire growth within porous channels of the AAO template.