Self assembly of monodisperse CdS nano-cylinders with a pore

Abstract

We present investigate the self assembly and growth of an array of $CdS$ nanotubes: a consequence of a fine balance of directed motion, diffusion and aggregation of reacting ${\rm Cd^{+2}}$ and ${\rm S^{-2}}$ ions. In a previous communication [J. Kiruthiga, A. Chatterji, J. Chem. Phys., {\bf 138} 024905 (2013)], we identified the mechanism of a unexpected growth of a very uniform $CdS$ nano-cylinder from the end of a nano-channel. Furthermore, the cylinder had a pore along the axis but were closed at one end. This unique phenomenon of self assembly of {\em monodisperse} CdS nano-cylinders had been observed in a rather simple experiment where two chambers containing 0.1 M ${\rm Cd Cl_2}$ and 0.1 M ${\rm Na_2 S}$ solutions were joined by an array of anodized aluminium oxide (AAO) nano-channels [A. Varghese, S. Datta, Phys. Rev. E., {\bf 85}, 056104 (2012)]. Our previous study identified the principles governing the growth of a single nano-tube at the exit point of a single AAO-nano-channel. In this communication, we identify factors affecting the self-assembly process for nano-tubes growing out an array of closely spaced AAO nano-channel exits. Our model is not $Cd^{+2}$ or $S^{2-}$ specific, the experimental scheme can be extended to self assemble a general class of reacting-diffusing A and B ions with A (${\rm Cd^{+2}}$) selectively migrating out from a nano-channel. In particular, we note that after the initial prolonged growth of nanotubes, there can arise a severe deficiency of B-ions (${\rm S^{-2}}$) ions near the AAO-nano-channel exits, the points where the reaction and aggregation occurs to form the $CdS$ nanotube, thus impeding further growth of uniform CdS nano-tubes. Thereby we predict the necessary characteristics of reacting systems which can be self assembled using suitable adaptations of previous experiments.