Polymer-assisted synthesis of aligned amorphous silicon nanowires and their core/shell structures with Au nanoparticles

Aligned amorphous Si nanowires (SiNWs) were synthesized directly from Si substrates with the assistance of a new carbon-based network polymer, poly(phenylcarbyne), during the heat-treatment in Ar atmosphere at 1120 °C. A core/shell structure of SiNWs wrapped with Au nanoparticles was simply fabricated as well. The analytic results of the morphology and microstructure confirmed the orientation and the amorphous nature of the SiNWs, and the high dispersion of Au nanoparticles on the surface of the SiNWs without any aggregation. The formation of the SiNWs was explained on the basis of the reaction of carbon with the native silica layer covering Si substrates.