A novel solvothermal method for nanoparticle thin films and coatings

Abstract

A novel single-step route for the preparation of nanoparticle films over large areas and for conformal coatings on curved surfaces is presented. The method relies on in situ synthesis of nanoparticles followed by deposition on desired metallic and nonmetallic substrates under solvothermal conditions. Here, we demonstrate that large-area thin films of various metals, alloys and semiconductors can be produced on a wide variety of substrates. In addition, we show that conformal coatings on complex surface topographies can also be obtained. An empirical mechanism based on sphere–plate interaction is proposed.