Novel electrochemical approach for the fabrication of free-standing perforated Au nanomembranes

Abstract

Herein, we propose a room-temperature two-step cost-effective electrochemical technology for the preparation of free-standing Au nanomembranes. A thin Au film with thickness less than 100 nm was deposited by pulsed electroplating on a GaAs substrate in the first step, followed by anodization in the second technological step to introduce porosity into the GaAs substrate underneath the Au film. At optimized parameters of anodization, detachment of the film from the substrate occurs. The gold film consists of a monolayer of Au nanoparticles 20-30 nm and proved to be flexible and stretchable, with possibilities to transfer the prepared nanomembranes to various substrates.