AuPd catalytic nanoparticle size effect on the formation of amorphous silicon nanowiresProject supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 19834080) and by the Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.

Abstract

Amorphous silicon (a-Si) nanowires have been prepared on SiO2/Si substrates by AuPd nanoparticles / silane reaction method. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the samples. The typical a-Si nanowires we obtained are of a uniform diameter about 20 nm and length up to several micrometers. The growth mechanism of the nanowires seems to be the vapor-liquid-solid mechanism. The catalytic particle size effect on the formation of the nanowires and the cause of forming amorphous state Si nanowires are discussed.