A. Guttenbeil, A. Kiesel, A. Mahir, C. Hutto, K. Bussard, K. McDonald, W. Sanders, R. Valcarce, P. Illes, M. Alvarez, L. Giddings, R. Holcomb, R. Kochambilli, and G. Johnson
Salt Lake Community College,
United States
Summary:
A faculty-guided student research project involving the synthesis of hybrid copper/silver nanostructures using template-assisted electrodeposition is presented. Two-component metal nano assemblies are formed from the reduction of copper and silver cations in valleys of corrugated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) templates. This student project incorporates the use of inquiry-based learning. Participating students use backscattered electron imaging and energy dispersed X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) to determine if electrodeposited metal nanostructures form linear, end-to-end assemblies or stacked assemblies.