Silver was successfully doped at precise locations in the Ti-nanotubes, i.e., on the external surface, between the thin interlayer gaps, or within the lumen core of the nanotubes. The ability to precisely locate the dopant within the nanotubes has important implications on the application of these materials in electronics, photonics and catalysis. Silvers exposed on the surface of the Ti-nanotubes are active for reactions and also display considerable bioactivity (i.e., bactericidal). Locating the silvers within the lumen core allows for more efficient light harvesting. Silvers within the lumen can be shaped from discrete spherical particles to rods of different length allowing a direct manipulation of the optical properties of the nanotubes. It is speculated that growing the silver nanorods to similar length as the nanotubes would also afford interesting electrical properties, making them an ideal candidate for nanophotoelectrochemical cells for solar energy harvesting. Silvers incorporated in the gaps between the interlayers form islands of 3-atom thick, curved silver sheet. It is postulated that silvers doped in this location would allow bandgap adjustment without introducing unwanted reactivity. Indeed, study shows that these silvers are less accessible to gases and could therefore be stable for many application uses.

Controlled spatial doping of Ag on the surface, interlayer, and core of Ti-nanotubes

248th National Meeting (2014)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.