Abstract
Many techniques are being used in order to synthesize nano-micro materials falling under the realm of nanotechnology. It need not be overemphasized that the miniaturization of devices and synthesis of new materials have a tremendous role in the development of powerful electronics as well as material based technologies in other areas but for the laws of quantum mechanics posing limitations besides the increasing cost and difficulties in manufacturing in such a small scale. The quest, therefore, for the alternative technologies, have stimulated a surge of interest in nano-meter scale materials and devices in the recent years. Metallic as well as semiconducting nano wires are the most attractive materials because of their unique properties having myriad of applications like interconnects for nano-electronics, magnetic devices, chemical and biosensors, whereas the hollow tubules are equally considered to be candidates for more potent applications — both in physical as well as biosciences. Materials’ processing for nano-structured devices is indispensable to their rational design. The technique, known as “Template Synthesis”, using electrochemical-electro less deposition is one of the most important processes for manufacturing nano-micro structures, nano-composites and devices and is relatively inexpensive and simple. The technique involves using membranes — ion crafted ones (popularly known as Particle Track-Etch Membranes or Nuclear Track Filters), alumite substrate membranes, besides other types of membranes as templates. The parameters viz., diameter as well as length i.e., aspect ratio, shape and wall surface traits in these membranes are controllable.
In the present article a detailed review of this technique using track-etch membranes as templates in synthesis of nano-micro materials including hybrid materials and devices like field-ion emitters, resonant tunneling diodes (RTDs) etc. is presented including most of the results obtained in our laboratory.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Huixin He and Nongjian J Tao Encyclopedia of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ed.) H S Nalwa, Vol. 1 (USA: Academic Press) (2000)
R Landauer J. Phys. Conden. Mat. 1 8089 (1989)
S K Chakarvarti and J Vetter Radiat. Meas. 29 149 (1998)
C R Martin Chem. Mater. 8 1739 (1996)
C J Brumlik, V P Menon and C Rmartin J. Mater. Res. 9 1174 (1994)
S K Chakarvarti and J Vetter J. Micromech. Microengg. 3 57 (1993)
Sanjeev Kumar, Shyam Kumar and S K Chakarvarti Current Sci. 87 642 (2004)
Sanjeev Kumar, Shyam Kumar and S K Chakarvarti J. Mat. Sci. Lett. 39 2951 (2004)
Sanjeev Kumar, Shyam Kumar and S K Chakarvarti J. Mat. Sci. Lett. 39 3257 (2004)
Sanjeev Kumar, Shyam Kumar and S K Chakarvarti Phys. Lett. A327 198 (2004)
Sanjeev Kumar, D L Zagorski, Shyam Kumar and S K Chakarvarti J. Mat. Sci. Lett. 39 6137 (2004)
Sanjeev Kumar, Shyam Kumar and S K Chakarvarti J. Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials 6 13 (2004)
G S Sekhon, N K Verma, S K Chakarvarti and Sunil Kumar Atti Delia “Fondazione Giorgio Ronchi” 59 529 (2004)
Rajesh Kumar Vijay Kumar and S K Chakarvarti J. Mat. Sci. Lett. 40 3523 (2005)
S K Chakarvarti Vijay Kumar and Sanjeev Kumar J. Mat. Sci. 40 503 (2005)
Rajesh Kumar and Shiv Kumar Chakarvarti Attidella “Fondazione Giorgio Ronchf 2005 LXI 31 (2006)
Meeru Chaudhri, A Vohra, S K Chakarvarti and Rajesh Kumar J. Mat. Sci.: Materials in Electronics 17(12) 993 (2006)
G A Ozin Adv. Mater. 4 612 (1992)
C A J Foss Metal Nanoparticles Synthesis, Characterization and Applications (USA: Marcel Dekker) (2002)
E Braun, Y Eichen, U Salvan and G Ben-Yoseph Nature 391 775 (1998)
Sfullam, D Cottel, H Rensmo and D Fitzmaurice Adv. Mater. 12 1430 (2000)
M P Zach, K H Ng and R M Penner Science 290 2120 (2000)
D Bera, S C Kuiry and S Seal JOM Jan (2004) http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/0401/Bera-0401.html
G C Hhadjipanayis and R W Siegle Nanophase Materials: Synthesis, Properties, Applications Series E: Applied Sciences (Dordrecht) (1994)
C R Martin, L S Van Dyke, Z Cai and W Liang J. Am. Chem. Soc. 112 8976 (1990)
R V Parthasarthy, K L N Phani and C R Martin Adv. Mater. 7 896 (1995)
C Schonenberger, B M I Vander Zande, L G J Fokkink, M Henny, C Schmid, M Kruger, A Bachtold, R Huber, H Birk and U Staufer J. Phys. Chem. B101 5407 (1997)
M Sima, I Enculescu, C Trautmann and R Neumann J. Optoelectronics Adv. Mater. 6 121 (2004)
C P Bean, U S Patent No. 34 83 095 (1969)
G E Possin Rev. Sci. Instrum. 41 772 (1970)
W D Willaims and N Giordano Rev. Sci. Instrum. 55 410 (1984)
R M Penner and C R Martin Anal. Chem. 59 2625 (1987)
J D Klien, R D Herrick II, D Palmer, M J Sailor, C J Brumlik and C R Martin Chem. Mat. 5 902 (1993)
A Huczko Appl. Phys. A70 365 (2000)
R Spohr Ion Tracks and Microtechnology: Basic Principles and applications (Vieweg: Wiesbaden) (1990)
C R Martin Science 266 1961 (1994)
A Despic and V Parkhutik Modern Aspects of Electrochemistry (eds.) J O Bockris, R E White and B E (New York: Conway Plenum) (1989)
R L Fleischer, P B Price and R M Walker Nuclear Tracks in Solids: Principles and Applications (Berkeley: Univ. of Calif. Press) (1975)
B E Fischer and R Spohr Rev. Mod. Phys. 55 907 (1983)
P B Price Rad. Meas. 40 146 (2005)
E Ferain and R Legras Nucl. Instr. Meth. Phys. Res. B208 115 (2003)
D Linkot, M Forment and H Cashet Adv. Electrochem. Sci. Eng. 6 167 (1999)
B Bercu, I Enculescu and R Spohr Nucl. Instrum. Meth. Phys. Res. B225 497 (2004)
R Spohr US Patent No. 43 38 164 (1982)
S K Chakarvarti and J Vetter Nucl. Instrum. Meth. Phys. Res. B62 109 (1991)
T M Whitney, J S Jiang, P C Searson and C L Chien Science 261 1316 (1993)
D Dobrev, J Vetter and N Angert GSI Sci. Rep. 1994 (Darmstadt: Germany) (1995)
A L Prieto, M S Sander, M S Martin-Gonzalez, R Gronsky, T Sands and A M Stay J. Am. Chem. Soc. 123 7160 (2001)
L Piraux, J M George, J F Despres, C Leory, E Ferain and R Legras Appl. Phys. Lett. 65 2484 (1994)
A J Yin, J Li, W Jian, A J Bennet and J M Xu Appl. Phys. Lett. 79 1039 (2001)
K Nielsch, F Muller, A-P Li and U Gosele Adv. Mater. 12 582 (2000)
S K Chakarvarti, S Amrita Kaur and J K Quamara, Paper at Seminar on Current Developments in Disordered Materials (CDDM) (Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra: India) (1996)
Sanjeev Kumar, Rajesh Kumar, Shyam Kumar and S K Chakarvarti J. Mat. Sci. Lett. 40 525 (2004)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chakarvarti, S.K. Track-etch membranes as templates enabled nano/micro technology: a review. Indian J Phys 83, 737–749 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12648-009-0030-2
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12648-009-0030-2