Morphology of Si nanowires fabricated by laser ablation using gold catalysts

Abstract

Si nanowires (NWs) were fabricated successfully by laser ablation using Au as catalyst. Si wafers were used as the collector. The diameters of Si NWs ranged from 20 to 150 nm. Different forms of Si NWs were observed at different local sites inside a furnace: Si NWs with a high aspect ratio of length to diameter, Si NWs with defects and Si NWs with Au-containing nanoparticles being embedded. Especially, a nano-particle embedded Si NW is a new nanostructure that is observed for the first time.