Formation and Catalytic Application of Electrically Conductive Pt Nanowires

Pt nanowires with variable lengths have been synthesized by the reduction of Pt(IV) ions using alkaline 2,7-DHN in CTAB micellar media under 3 h of UV photoirradiation. The synthesized Pt nanowires are stable for more than 3 months in ambient conditions. The particles’ morphology can be tuned by simply changing the surfactant-to-metal ion molar ratios and other reaction parameters. The mechanisms of the nanowire formation and effects of different reaction parameters are studied in detail. The resulting nanowires are found to be electrically conductive and maintain Ohm’s law with the electrodes. Moreover, they serve as a good catalyst for the reduction of organic dye molecules in the presence of NaBH 4 . The catalysis rate was compared by considering the electron-transfer process during reduction. The present method would lead to a quick process for the synthesis of other monometallic and composite nanowires with variable lengths. The Pt nanowires offer promising applications in different types of organic and inorganic catalysis reactions, nanoelectronics, and biomedical applications.