Fabrication of highly conductive Pd nanowires using PDMS transfer method on dna scaffolds through ethanol-reduction

We have developed a simple, productive, and effective poly(dimethysiloxane) (PDMS) transfer method to fabricate highly conductive Pd nanowires following DNA scaffolds on various substrates, based on ethanol-reduction at low temperature. Pd nanoparticles were selectively deposited and confined onto the DNA templates on a PDMS sheet to form Pd nanowires and then the nanowires were transferred to other various substrates with a low occurrence of parasitic nanoparticles. The structure, morphology and the conductance of Pd nanowires were characterized with transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and electrical transport measurement, respectively. Moreover, the growth process of the Pd nanowires was investigated by varying the incubation time and reaction temperature. The present strategy provides a new method to fabricate extremely dense, highly conductive, and well aligned Pd nanowires on various substrates, which make it promising for building nanosensors and nanoelectronic devices. © 2013 Chinese Physical Society.