Synthesis of hierarchical mushroom-like cobalt nanostructures based on one-step galvanostatic electrochemical deposition

Abstract

Hierarchical mushroom-like cobalt materials were synthesized by galvanostatic electroplating. The morphology of the product, which can evolve from cone-like to mushroom-like nanostructures, is controllable by changing the deposition parameters. The nanostructure is a single hexagonal close-packed crystal with a <100> preferential growth direction. The proposed growth mechanism is based on the metal ion deficient layer (MIDL) theory which explains both the time-dependent morphology evolution and the effects of the crystalline modifier C₂H₄(NH₂)₂. Depositions using several organic crystalline modifiers were compared; only C₂H₄(NH₂)₂ yielded the mushroom-like structure.