Fabrication and characterization of patterned micrometre scale interpenetrating Au–TiO₂network nanocomposites

Integrated micrometre scale interpenetrating Au–nanostructured TiO2 (Au–NST) network nanocomposites have been fabricated using a two-step process. First, NS Tp adarrays were prepared by reacting patterned Ti surfaces with aqueous H2O2 .N ST formed is porous with pores 50–200 nm in diameter and walls about 75–125 nm thick. Second, Au was infiltrated into pores of NST using electroless deposition to form the nanocomposite. SEM studies indicate that Au was deposited into pores of NST with little void formation. Selective deposition of Au on NST pads was confirmed using XRD and area-mode XPS. This process is a general route to forming micrometre-scale nanocomposite features consisting of NST and metals that are amenable to electroless deposition. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)