Precipitation of gold nanoparticles on insulating surfaces for metallic ultra-thin film electroless deposition assistance

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 258; no. 19; pp. 7503 - 7506
• Main Authors: Livshits, P., Inberg, A., Shacham-Diamand, Y., Malka, D., Fleger, Y., Zalevsky, Z.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.07.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Deposition; Electroless deposition; Exact sciences and technology; Gold; Nanoparticles; Physics; Precipitates; Precipitation; Precipitation of gold nanoparticles; Regularity; Saturation; SiO2/Si surfaces; Thin films; Ultra-thin films; Ultra-thin films; SiO2/Si surfaces; Precipitation of gold nanoparticles; Electroless deposition; Ultrathin films; Gold; Inorganic compounds; Nanoparticles; Metallic thin films; Precipitation; Silicon oxides; Transition elements; Si surfaces; SiO; Silicon
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2012.04.072

[Display omitted] ► The kinetics of 15 and 25nm AuNPs precipitation on SAM/SiO2/Si surface were studied. ► 15nm NPs are promising candidate to catalyze the deposition of ultra-thin films. ► NPs independently of their size precipitate with a certain regularity and order. ► NPs are organized in pairs and under certain angle. ► In each pair NPs are located at 50–60nm from each other. In this work, the kinetics of 15 and 25nm gold nanoparticle (AuNP) precipitation on silanized SiO2/Si surfaces were studied. The NP coverage as well as distribution on the substrates was explored. It was found that at the beginning of the process, the 25nm AuNPs precipitate faster than their 15nm counterparts. However, early saturation and low final surface coverage by these NPs were observed. The 15nm AuNPs, exhibited higher (∼40%) surface coverage and precipitation saturation only after longer treatment times. This makes small NPs a promising candidate for catalyzing the deposition of ultra-thin metallic films on insulating substrates. In addition, it has been demonstrated for the first time that NPs, independently of their size, precipitate with a certain regularity and order. Using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM) it was observed that NPs are organized in pairs, and in each pair they are located at 50–60nm from each other and under certain angle.