Fabrication of highly ordered macroporous copper films using template-assisted electrodeposition in an ionic liquid

In the present communication we report on the electrochemical synthesis of highly ordered macroporous copper films in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide [BMIm]DCA using polystyrene (PS) templates. The polystyrene colloidal spheres are arranged onto gold and indium tin oxide substrates in an ordered hexagonal structure. The interstitial voids of the PS sphere arrays are subsequently filled with copper by electrodeposition. After chemical dissolution of the PS spheres well ordered macroporous copper films were obtained. Depending on the experimental parameters, highly ordered 2- and 3-dimensional macroporous Cu films with interconnected pore structure can be made. The macroporous Cu films showed diffractive colours by varying the angle of the incident light.

► Highly ordered 2D- and 3D-macroporous Cu films can be made in [BMIm]DCA.
► The fabricated films showed diffractive colours when illuminated with white light.
► The characteristics of such films suggest their potential in diverse applications.