Synthesis of Si nanowires using Au catalyst accompanied with silicide nanoparticle formation

Si nanowires were grown on Si(111) substrates, and the shape modification of the nanowires was demonstrated. With the Au catalyst, the highly symmetric faceted silicide solid particle in the Au-Si eutectic solution was formed on the top of the nanowires, and the solid catalyst defined the shape of the Si nanowire. Namely, the VLS growth mechanism was followed by the VSS growth mechanism, and the modified shaped faceted Si nanowire was formed during the VSS growth. This result makes us to expect to control the shape of the nanowires by the formation of facetted silicide particles grown during the Au catalytic growth. (c) 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim