TEMPLATE SYNTHESIS OF METAL MICROTUBULE ENSEMBLES UTILIZING CHEMICAL,ELECTROCHEMICAL, AND VACUUM DEPOSITION TECHNIQUES

Microtubules are an interesting type of microstructure that resemble m iniature drinking straws. Such tubular microstructures are found in na ture. In addition, we and others have been investigating strategies fo r making synthetic analogs. We are especially interested in the idea o f making metal microtubules. Four procedures for preparing metal micro tubules are described in this paper. The general approach, called temp late-synthesis, entails using the pores in a microporous membrane as t emplates for forming the tubules. Microporous anodic aluminum oxide me mbranes and nuclear track-etch membranes are used as the template memb ranes. Gold and silver microtubules are made with outer diameters as s mall as 200 nm. These microstructures are characterized by scanning el ectron microscopy.