Assembly of one dimensional inorganic nanostructures into functional 2D and 3D architectures. Synthesis, arrangement and functionality

Abstract

This review will focus on the synthesis, arrangement, structural assembly, for current and future applications, of 1D nanomaterials (tubes, wires, rods) in 2D and 3D ordered arrangements. The ability to synthesize and arrange one dimensional nanomaterials into ordered 2D or 3D micro or macro sized structures is of utmost importance in developing new devices and applications of these materials. Micro and macro sized architectures based on such 1D nanomaterials (e.g. tubes, wires, rods) provide a platform to integrate nanostructures at a larger and thus manageable scale into high performance electronic devices like field effect transistors, as chemo- and biosensors, catalysts, or in energy material applications. Carbon based, metal oxide and metal based 1D arranged materials as well as hybrid or composite 1D materials of the latter provide a broad materials platform, offering a perspective for new entries into fascinating structures and future applications of such assembled architectures. These architectures allow bridging the gap between 1D nanostructures and the micro and macro world and are the basis for an assembly of 1D materials into higher hierarchy domains. This critical review is intended to provide an interesting starting point to view the current state of the art and show perspectives for future developments in this field. The emphasis is on selected nanomaterials and the possibilities for building three dimensional arrays starting from one dimensional building blocks. Carbon nanotubes, metal oxide nanotubes and nanowires (e.g. ZnO, TiO(2), V(2)O(5), Cu(2)O, NiO, Fe(2)O(3)), silicon and germanium nanowires, and group III-V or II-VI based 1D semiconductor nanostructures like GaS and GaN, pure metals as well as 1D hybrid materials and their higher organized architectures (foremost in 3D) will be focussed. These materials have been the most intensively studied within the last 5-10 years with respect to nano-micro integration aspects and their functional and application oriented properties. The critical review should be interesting for a broader scientific community (chemists, physicists, material scientists) interested in synthetic and functional material aspects of 1D materials as well as their integration into next higher organized architectures.

Transition metal oxides/hydroxides nanoarrays for aqueous electrochemical energy storage systems

“…It acts as not only a current conductor but also a template to grow ordered arrays. The crystal structure and the orientation of the substrates often play a vital role in the growth process of arrays [15]. Thus, the choice of the substrate will significantly affect the overall performance of the nanoarray materials.…”

“…One dimensional nanoarray materials One dimensional (1D) structured nanoarrays, including nanowires, nanorods and nanotubes are the basic structures in nanoarrays [15,67]. The 1D nanostructure can offer a direct pathway for electron transfer and the high aspect ratio can facilitate the electrolyte penetration and maximize the utilization of the active materials [19,68].…”

“…In addition, these nanoarrays often exhibit fascinating properties, which are desirable for EES electrodes. It could provide large surface area and tunable free spaces for volume expansion, prevent agglomeration, facilitate the electron transfer rate and the penetration of the electrolytes into the whole electrode matrix, and strengthen the connection between active materials and substrates [2,[14][15][16][17]. A schematic representation of an idealized nanoarrays electrode is shown in Fig.…”

Brush-like SnO2/ZnO hierarchical nanostructure: Synthesis, characterization and application in UV photoresponse

“…[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] Recently hierarchical nanostructure attract researchers' interests for its high surface-volume ratio which is benefit to improve the performance of the nanodevices. [26][27][28][29][30][31] Because of similar bandgap and optoeletronics functions of ZnO and SnO 2 , hybrid ZnO/SnO 2 threedimensional hierarchical nanostructures were fabricated and investigated. [32][33][34] Cheng et al reported hierarchical nanostructures composed by SnO 2 backbones and ZnO branches, random lasing was observed from the ZnO branches where the multiscattering was easy to be generated.…”

Theory for Morphology Engineering of Solid Compounds (ATMESC): Facts, Predictions and Experimental Evidences

“…From a point of view of a chemist, the concept of materials engineering [4] was expanded to include "controlling and designing the oriented structures of materials by rescaling their dimensions [5][6][7] or varying their external morphologies [8][9][10], favorably with functionalization [11][12][13], decoration [14][15][16][17], doping [18][19][20][21] or mixing [22,23] with other materials to attend the synergistic effect [24][25][26] which enhance their properties". There are two main methods used for nanofabrication; Top-down and bottom-up approaches.…”