In this talk we will first present the synthesis of free-standing, stable gold nanowire network with controlled morphology and geometry by ion-track technology and electrodeposition. Etched ion-track membranes with interconnected nanochannels are produced by sequential GeV heavy ion irradiation of polymer foils from four directions, and subsequent etching and enlargment of the created ion-tracks. Au nanowire networks with three different nanowire diameters are synthesized by potentiostatic electrodeposition in the templates. Nanowire growth rate and homogeneity are tuned by varying the deposition potential. The electrochemical surface area was determined for each sample by CV analysis of surface oxide reduction reaction charge transfer. We will also discuss the catalytic performance of these Au nanowire networks towards methanol electro-oxidation, acting as an electrode in a half-cell setup. High current density and high catalytic activity were recorded. The Au nanowire networks provided up to 200 times higher peak current density than a flat Au electrode, along with excellent long term cyclability, which the current density drops only 5% over 200 CV cycles. SEM studies of the morphology and crystallinity of the nanowires before and after the methanol oxidation reaction will also be presented in the talk.

Figure 1. (a) SEM image of Au nanowire network, (b) Cyclic Voltammograms recorded for a of Au nanowire network in 0.1 M KOH with (solid line) and without (dash line) 1 M MeOH.