Multifunctional core-shell Co-SiO2 nanowires via electrodeposition and sol-gel techniques

In this work, we propose a new strategy for the synthesis of multifunctional nanowires using a combination of sol-gel and electrodeposition techniques, based on a two-step procedure. First of all, nanotubes of SiO are synthesized via a sol-gel technique using polycarbonate membranes as templates. Homogenous nanotubes are obtained after centrifugation and thermal annealing. Afterwards, a ferromagnetic cobalt core is grown using potentiostatic electrodeposition. Finally, the core-shell Co-SiO nanowires are released by dissolving the template using wet-etching. These nanodevices can be used for many detection and sensing purposes. As a proof of concept, we have developed a pH nanosensor by including a pH-sensitive organic dye in the SiO shell. The sensing principle is based on the optical response of the organic dye towards pH when added to a solution. The magnetic core allows the recovery of the nanosensors after use. These nanowires can therefore be used as recoverable pH nanosensors. By changing the dye molecule to another molecule or receptor, the procedure described in the paper can be used to synthesize nanodevices for many different applications.This work was funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) under grants MAT2011-28751-C02 and MAT2012-38045-C04-03. Manuel Abuín acknowledges the UCM Campus de Excelencia Internacional (PICATA Program) and Laura Martín-García acknowledges the MINECO (FPI program) for their pre-doctoral fellowships.Peer Reviewe

On the intergovernmental fiscal game

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