The use of polyethyleneimine to control the growth-front morphology of electrochemically deposited gold nanowires for engineered nanogap electrodes

Polyethyleneimine (PEI) is utilized in an electrolytic bath for the planarization of electrodeposited nanowire growth fronts in porous anodic alumina templates (see image). The addition of highly branched, low-molecular-weight PEI to the plating bath also provides improved uniformity in the distribution of nanowire growth rates from pore to pore and allows for a more precise control over the electrochemical growth process.