Fabrication of multi-level branched metal nanowires by AAO template electrodeposition

Anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) tem- plates with various branched pores were prepared through one- to multi-step varying the anodic voltage by a factor of 1/ 2 during an anodization of alumi- num. The corresponding branched Fe nanowires (i.e. Y-branched, two-level branched and more complex tree-like nanostructures) were achieved by electrodepositing Fe into the branched pores of the AAO template. Selecting area electron diffraction and high-resolution TEM images show that the stem and branches of the branched Fe nanowires are single- crystalline with a face-centered cubic lattice. These branched Fe nanowires will be of great fundamental and practical significance.