Microspheres for the Growth of Silicon Nanowires via Vapor-Liquid-Solid Mechanism

Figure 2

Schematic representation of the mechanism of SiNWs growth by VLS: (a) deposition of microspheres on Si surface; (b) deposition of a thin layer of Au; (c) formation of gold droplets on the top of the microspheres; (d) incorporation of Si into droplets, supersaturation, and growth of nanowires.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)