Vapor-solid-solid growth of crystalline silicon nanowires using anodic aluminum oxide template

C. Y. Kuo, Chie Gau

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) were grown at low temperatures close to metal silicon eutectic point on a silicon substrate using gold catalyst coupled with assistance of the aluminum anodic oxide template. Either a vapor-solid-solid (VSS) growth process below metal silicon eutectic temperature or a vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) process at slightly higher temperatures was observed. The transmission electron microscopy coupled with both the X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy and the selected area electron diffraction was adopted to characterize the SiNWs. Although the mechanism triggering the VSS process is still not clear, both the geometric and morphological characteristics of the SiNWs grown by the VSS process are discussed and compared with the SiNWs grown by the VLS process. The VSS SiNWs have a much slower growth rate (less than 100 nm/h), a smaller and more uniform diameter (in the range of 15.22 nm) due to a much slower rate of silicon diffusion and much smaller amount of silicon (6.8 wt.%) dissolved in the solid nanocatalyst.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3603-3607
Number of pages5
JournalThin Solid Films
Volume519
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011 Mar 31

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Surfaces and Interfaces
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
  • Metals and Alloys
  • Materials Chemistry

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Vapor-solid-solid growth of crystalline silicon nanowires using anodic aluminum oxide template'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this