Novel nanofabrication based on wet nanocoating.(2)-design and fabrication of nano tape

Shape designing of nanofilms is a hot issue for fabrication of novel functional nanomaterials in material science. In this study, we report the preparation of the self-supporting nanotapes composed of ultrathin metal oxide layers. The silica thin film was prepared on the surface of nano line template by the surface sol-gel process (wet nanocoating), and the substrate was then subjected to anisotropic etch of the SiO₂ layer, leaving behind the side wall part of the coating layer. Next, the side wall was peeled off from the substrate by simply washing the substrate in an organic solvent. After filtration of the solvent, flexible and ultrathin nanotapes were widely observed on the filtration membrane, and its width corresponded to the height of the original line template. In the case of titania and silica/titania composite film, nanotapes were also obtained.