1. Electroplating to make nanostructures

2. You can also create a very thin film using the same process that is used to produce silverware.

3. Teapots are electroplated with a thin layer of silver to give them an attractive finish. Objects that are electroplated are first cleaned, then placed in a bath that contains ions, or positively charged atoms, of the metal that will be deposited on them

4. Your Electroplating Circuit

5. Electroplating a Thin Film
The components of an electroplating circuit are at the center of each table.
Carefully put the electrodes into the solution of zinc nitrate.
Turn the switch on to start the electroplating process.
Stop electroplating when the copper electrode seems to be covered with zinc.
Put the electrodes on a paper towel at the center of the table.

6. Electroplating Zinc onto CopperV
Copper cathode
Zinc
anode
ZnNO3 dissolved in water
Zn+2
Zn(0) –> Zn2+ + 2e-
oxidation
reduction
Zn2+ + 2e- –> Zn(0)

7. Amount of Deposition
The number of zinc ions that become atoms depends on the number of electrons that pass through the circuit
Zn2+
2e-
ammeter I

8. Why choose electroplating to make nanostructures??
The process is easy to operate and only needs
simple equipment.
It’s simple to control the deposition rate by
controlling the voltage or current.
It’s a good way to make Nanowires in a porous template.

9. Electrodeposited Nanowires
nanoporous template
nanowires
in a diblock
copolymer
template
nanowires
in a
polycarbonate
filter

10. If the nanowires are magnetic, they can be used to store data
Data storage elements
Application
(arrow indicates the direction of magnetization)