Carbon Nanotube Templated Self-Assembly and Thermal Processing of Gold Nanowires

Abstract

Gold nanowires have been produced by the self-assembly of gold nanoparticles onto multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The nanotubes were mixed with a suspension of gold nanoparticles, resulting in a decrease in color intensity of the suspension, and indicating binding between the nanotubes and the gold (see Figure). Subsequent heating in air for 2 min gave rise to continuous nanowires up to 10 μm in length (see also cover).