Fabrication of microporous templates for use in Supercritical Fluid Electrodeposition (SCFED)

Abstract

This thesis described the development of microporous and mesoporous templates for use as nanowire deposition templates in Supercritical Fluid Electrodeposition (SCFED) as part of an EPSRC funded project.

This project was focussed in 3 areas of interest:

1. Growth of aluminophosphate VPI-5 crystals for mounting onto a microelectrode Phase pure VPI-5 crystals were grown up to lengths of ~500 ?m and characterised by X-ray diffraction. Freeze drying proved to be a successful method for removing water from the pores of VPI-5 without degradation of the structure, however the quantity of water removed was not ascertained. The growing of larger crystals by seeding with VPI-5 crystals was attempted with varying levels of success.

2. Growth of a thin film of zeolite SL-1 onto a TiN/Si electrode SL-1 films were grown onto TiN/Si substrates with a wide variety of morphologies and differing levels of uniformity. These differences were caused by varying the pre-treatment of the substrates alongside the quantity of water in the autoclaves and crystallisation temperature/time. One sample in particular showed uniform coverage, providing a good basis for any future work.

3. Modification of existing anodic alumina membranes to aid SCFED A phenyl phospohonate compound was grafted onto anodic alumina membranes of differing porosity. These membranes showed a large increase in hydrophobicity through observing the contact angle of a water droplet on the surface of the membrane. A regular membrane readily absorbs water, whereas a grafted membrane shows significant hydrophobicity.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Andrew Hector: orcid.org/0000-0002-9964-2163

ORCID for Philip Bartlett: orcid.org/0000-0002-7300-6900

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