Bismuth quantum-wires arrays fabricated by electrodeposition in nanoporousanodic aluminum oxide and its structural properties

Ultrafine bismuth nanowire arrays have been fabricated by electrodeposition into nanoporous anodic aluminum templates in a composite electrolyte solut ion, in which the diameter of nanowire as low as 3 nm can be obtained. The micrographs and crystal structures of Bi nanowires are studied by transmiss ion electron microscopy (TEM), selected-area electron diffraction (SAED), a nd X-ray diffraction (XRD). It is found that each nanowire is essentially a single crystal and has a different orientation in an array. The optical pr operties of the Bi nanowire arrays are studied by W-VIS spectra. The experi mental results exhibit blue-shifted phenomena with decreasing wire diameter , which is qualitatively consistent with the effective medium theory. (C) 2 000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.