Gold Nanotubes Synthesized via Magnetic Alignment of Cobalt Nanoparticles as Templates

Abstract

We report an aqueous solution-phase synthesis of continuous gold nanotubes with controllable shape, size, and length, tens of nm in diameter, a few nm in wall thickness, and up to 5 μm in length. Alignment is induced by magnetic field manipulation and synthetic parameters using cobalt nanoparticles as sacrificial templates. Because of the ease with which magnetic fields may be manipulated, precise placement should be not only possible, but also relatively simple as compared to other methods. This approach represents an important alternative for producing one-dimensional metal nanotube structures.