The combination of etched ion-track membranes and electrodeposition allows us to synthesize nanowires with simultaneous and independent control of their dimension, geometry, morphology and crystallinity.

Poly- and single-crystalline nanowires, with diameter ranging between few nm and several micrometers, and aspect ratio (length over diameter) as high as 1000, are created by electrochemical deposition in etched ion track templates. The wires can remain in the template or can be transfered to another substrate after removal of the membrane.

Currently, we are working on the electrochemical synthesis of nanowires of different materials such as copper, gold, bismuth, platinum, silver, alloys such as AuAg, Bi_1-xSb_x and Bi₂Te₃, ZnO, and heterostructures such as multilayers.

Novel nanostructures such as nanogaps for plasmonics, conical nanowires, and nanowire networks are currently under development and investigation.

Recent publications

• Tuning the Size and Shape of NanoMOFs via Templated Electrodeposition and Subsequent Electrochemical Oxidation, F. Caddeo, R. Vogt, D. Weil, W. Sigle, M.E. Toimil-Molares, Maijenburg W., ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces (2019) 11, 25378.
• ZnO Nanowire Networks as Photoanode Model Systems for Photoelectrochemical Applications, L. Movsesyan, A.W. Maijenburg, N. Goethals, W. Sigle, A. Spende, F. Yang, B. Kaiser, W. Jaegermann, S.-Y. Park, G. Mul, C. Trautmann, M.E. Toimil-Molares, Nanomaterials (2018) 8, 693.
• Surface enrichment in Au–Ag alloy nanowires and investigation of the dealloying process, L. Burr, I. Schubert, W. Sigle, C. Trautmann, M.E. Toimil-Molares, J. Phys. Chem. C 119 (2015) 20949-20956.
• Growth and morphological analysis of segmented AuAg alloy nanowires created by pulsed electrodeposition in ion-track etched membranes, I. Schubert, L. Burr, C. Trautmann,M.E. Toimil-Molares, Beilstein J. of Nanotechnology 6 (2015) 1272.
• Characterization and properties of micro- and nanowires of controlled size, composition, and geometry fabricated by electrodeposition in ion-track technology, M.E. Toimil-Molares, Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 3 (2012) 860-883.
• Tuning the Geometrical and Crystallographic Characteristics of Bi₂Te₃ Nanowires by Electrodeposition in Ion-Track Membranes, O. Picht, S. Müller, I. Alber, M. Rauber, J. Lensch-Falk, D.L. Medlin, R. Neumann, M.E. Toimil-Molares, J. Phys. Chem. C 116 (2012) 5367.
• Electrochemical Synthesis of Bi_{1 x}Sb_x Nanowires with Simultaneous Control on Size Composition and Surface Roughness, S. Müller, C. Schötz, O. Picht, W. Sigle, P. Kopold, M. Rauber, I. Alber, R. Neumann,M.E. Toimil-Molares, Crystal Growth and Design 12 (2012) 615.
• Copper nanocones grown in polymer ion-track membranes as field emitters, P. Serbun, F. Jordan, A. Navitski, G. Müller, I. Alber,M.E. Toimil-Molares, C. Trautmann, The European Physical Journal Applied Physics 58 (2012) 10402.

GSI Contact: m.e.toimilmolares(at)gsi.de

MAT beam time schedule 2024

Beam time at GSI

Gratulation

Wir gratulieren Nils Ulrich herzlich zum erfolgreichen Abschluss seiner Promotion am 18. Oktober 2024 an der TU Darmstadt. In seiner Doktorarbeit beschäftigte sich Nils mit freistehenden, nanostrukturierten Kupferdrahtnetzwerken als Katalysatoren für die elektrochemische CO₂-Reduktion. Nils hat bereits vor fast 2 Jahren eine spannende neue Forschungsaufgabe in der Galvanikindustrie übernommen. Wir wünschen ihm Zufriedenheit und Erfolg.

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Congratulation

We congratulate Nils Ulrich on the successful completion of his PhD thesis on October 18, 2024, at TU Darmstadt. In his thesis project, Nils investigated free-standing, nanostructured copper wire networks as catalysts for electrochemical CO₂ reduction. Nils has already taken on an exciting new research position in the galvanic industry. We wish him continued satisfaction and success.

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Giersch Award für Maxim Saifulin

Dr. Maxim Saifulin wurde mit dem Preis der Giersch-Stiftung für herausragende Dissertationen 2024 ausgezeichnet. Er erhielt den Preis für seine Arbeit „Fast scintillating ZnO ceramics for relativistic heavy-ion beam diagnostics“. Die Arbeit basiert auf einem gemeinsamen Projekt der Abteilungen Strahldiagnostik und Materialforschung und befasste sich mit der Entwicklung eines ultraschnellen Keramikdetektors für ionisierende Strahlung auf der Basis von Zinkoxid-Nanokristallen. Aufgrund seiner hohen Strahlungsresistenz hat dieses Material ein erhebliches Potenzial für Anwendungen in Strahlkontrollsystemen an Schwerionenbeschleunigeranlagen.

Giersch Award for Maxim Saifulin

Dr. Maxim Saifulin was honored with the Giersch Foundation's Award for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis 2024. He received the prize for his work “Fast scintillating ZnO ceramics for relativistic heavy-ion beam diagnostics“. This research was a collaborative project between the Beam Diagnostic and Materials Research departments focusing on the development of an ultrafast ceramic detector for ionization radiation based on zinc oxide nanocrystals. Due to its high radiation resistance, this material holds considerable potential for applications in beam control systems at heavy ion accelerator facilities.