Coaxial nanocable arrays: Si sheathed with diamond-like carbon

Si nanowires as cores were prepared using electroless metal deposition, which can be understood on the basis of the self-assembled localized microscopic electrochemical cell model. To give direct experimental proof for the formation of Si nanowires sheathed with thin DLC films, we conducted TEM on the samples. The results show that the composite Si nanowire structure has a crystalline core and a surrounding amorphous layer. Room-temperature visible photoluminescence (PL) was also observed from the as-prepared composite nanostructures.