Platinum nanowires were electrodeposited in a lamellar lyotropic liquid crystal, composed of nonionic surfactant tetraethylene glycol monododecyl ether and H₂PtCl₆ aqueous solution. Polarized optic microscope, and small angle X-ray scattering were applied to evaluate the structure of liquid crystal, meanwhile transmission electron microscope and energy dispersion analysis of X-ray were used to observe the morphology and analyze the composition of product. Results showed that when deposition potential lay in the range of 0.05～0.20 V vs. saturated calomel electrode (SCE), metallic platinum grew along the surfactant bilayers, and the lyotropic phases were almost of the same long range periodicity before and after reaction. At the deposition potential of 0.10 V (vs. SCE), as reaction time extended from 960 to 3840 s, lamellar nanoparticles, layered nanowires and condensed platinum nanowires longer than 10 μm were obtained respectively after the removal of surfactant. Structure directing effect of the lamellar liquid crystal on the deposited product was discussed.

Key words: lamellar, lyotropic liquid crystal, electrodeposition, platinum, nanowire