Bolaamphiphile Nanotube-Templated Metallized Wires

Abstract

This paper introduces a new method to produce metal-coated nanowires using self-assembled bolaamphiphile nanotubes as templates. Electroless Ni and Cu coatings on the bolaamphiphile nanotubes were achieved in Ni and Cu baths with reducing agents. Raman microscopic analysis indicates that non-hydrogen-bonded amide groups of the bolaamphiphile nanotubes capture metal ions and form stable metal−amide complexes. These complexes seem to become efficient nucleation sites and produce metallic coatings around the bolaamphiphile nanotubes. This method may therefore be applied to construct nano-electric circuits since the metal-coated bolaamphiphile nanotubes can grow on Au electrodes via self-assembled carboxylic acid thiol monolayers.