Synthesis of titania-based microwires by localized electrolytic deposition using a scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM)

Here we present the synthesis of titania-based microwires through an electrolytic deposition process using a scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM). The method is based on the localized hydrolysis of an aqueous precursor using the base electrogenerated on the ultramicroelectrode surface. We show that the diameter of these microwires can be controlled from the diameter of the working electrode (ultramicroelectrode of 5, 10 or 25 μm in diameter). The smallest microwire produced during this work has a mean diameter of 6.8 μm which remains uniform all along the length. Lengths of typically 880 μm were obtained after 1200 s of deposition.