Biologically Inspired Synthesis Route to Three-Dimensionally Structured Inorganic Thin Films
Figure 1
(a) Schematic illustration of the
vapor-diffusion catalysis method for unsupported film formation from aqueous
metal salt solutions; SEM images of the growth of Co5(OH)8(NO3)2·2H2O
from 0.1 M Co(NO3)2 solution showing (b) noncontinuous
network of partially fused Co5(OH)8(NO3)2·2H2O
nucleation islands after 15 minute reaction time, (c) extended network of further
fused Co5(OH)8(NO3)2·2H2O
nucleation islands after 30-minute reaction time; and (d) fully condensed
structured Co5(OH)8(NO3)2·2H2O
thin films after 60-minute reaction time.
