Nanoparticle-Assisted, Catalytic Etching of Carbon Surfaces as a Method to Manufacture Nanogrooves

• Published in: Journal of physical chemistry. C Vol. 116; no. 25; pp. 13693 - 13698
• Main Authors: Schumacher, Christoph M, Koehler, Fabian M, Rotzetter, Aline C. C, Raso, Renzo A, Stark, Wendelin J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Columbus, OH American Chemical Society 28.06.2012
• Subjects: Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Fullerenes and related materials; diamonds, graphite; Materials science; Methods of nanofabrication; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanoscale pattern formation; Other topics in nanoscale materials and structures; Physics; Specific materials; Structure and morphology; thickness; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties); Thin film structure and morphology; Nanoparticles; Atomic force microscopy; Patterning; Nanopatterning; Graphite; Etching; Oxidation; Nanostructures; Chip; Carbon; Nanostructured materials; Nanogroove
• ISSN: 1932-7447; 1932-7455
• DOI: 10.1021/jp303633w

A simple structuring method for graphitic structures based on the catalytic properties of cerium oxide nanoparticles under oxidizing conditions is presented. Highly oriented pyrolytic graphite chips were impregnated with well-dispersed ceria nanoparticles and then treated at elevated temperatures for several hours. Oxidation activities on the particle surface appeared as crystallographically independent traces that were formed on the graphite and provide a simple method to manufacture nanogrooves at large scale. By altering treatment durations and temperatures, the optimal conditions and activity parameters of the particles were determined. A systematic AFM evaluation allowed formulating of a mechanism of the etching process. The findings provide a simple procedure for the patterning of graphitic structures, formation of nanogrooves and thereby a basic tool for material science with respect to the manufacturing of atmospheric nanofilters and ion-selective membranes.