Electroless synthesis of lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH) nanotubes in ion track etched polycarbonate templates

In this study, we describe the electroless synthesis of lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH) nanotubes produced in ion track etched polycarbonate foils. The foils act as templates after they had been irradiated with heavy ions to produce latent tracks that were etched with a desired diameter. Templates are used to fabricate shape formed 1D nanostructures in general. The synthesis of lepidocrocite nanotubes was carried out in a simple two-step method: firstly, particles were formed by precipitation in aqueous solution; secondly, nanotubes were produced by the deposition of the particles inside the nanochannels of the polycarbonate template. Solvent effects were considered to achieve homogeneous growth resulting in well-defined nanotubes of constant wall thickness along the tube axis. Lepidocrocite nanotubes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), Raman, and Mössbauer spectroscopy.