Low temperature synthesis of ZnSe nanowires by self-catalytic liquid-solid growth

Nanowire arrays of zinc selenide with zinc blende structures have been synthesized on the zinc foil via a simple thermal evaporation route at relatively low temperature (∼400 °C). A self-catalytic liquid–solid growth is proposed for the formation of the nanowires. The nanowires are usually 50–150 nm in diameter, and several microns in length. Room-temperature cathodoluminescence spectrum from zinc blende ZnSe nanowires shows a near band edge emission band peaked at around 462 nm and a broad deep-level emission band at around 580 nm, respectively.