Synthetic control of large-area, ordered bismuth nanowire arrays

Bismuth (Bi) nanowires have been successfully fabricated into the anodic alumina membranes by direct-current and pulsed electrochemical deposition technique. X-ray diffraction and selected area electron diffraction analysis show that the as-synthesized samples can be either polycrystalline or single crystalline depending on the potentials and pulse parameters. Transmission electron microscopy and field-emission scanning electron microscopy observations reveal that large-area and highly ordered Bi nanowire arrays with a smooth surface and uniform diameter are synthesized. The diameters of Bi nanowires increase with increasing the pulse on-time at a constant pulse off-time. The orientations of nanowires also depend on the electrochemical deposition parameters.