Template-free and seedless growth of Pt nanocolumns: Imaging and probing their nanoelectrical properties

The electrical conductivity of platinum nanocolumns has been imaged and measured by conductive atomic force microscopy. The successful syntheses of well-aligned < 100 >-oriented Pt nanocolumns on both random and oriented substrates have been carried out via a simple and seedless metal-organic chemical vapor deposition process. Control of the crystalline quality has been achieved by carefully selecting operational conditions. The growth mechanism, depending on deposition parameters (including deposition temperature, oxygen partial pressures, deposition time, and substrate nature), has been examined in detail.