Silica Nanowires, SEM
This edge-on SEM photograph depicts free-standing and self-aligned silica nanowires. Development of free-standing nanowire arrays is of technological interest for future energy conversion and energy storage devices. The silica nanowires are supported by a silicon wafer and still possess small indium droplets at their tips. Energetic ion bombardment and the unique growth energetics make the silica wires appear as if they have grown naturally. Mediated by droplets of liquid indium, these nanowires emerge and grow several microns tall. The droplets intercept silicon atoms emitted from a nearby source. Water vapor added to the growth environment reacts with silicon dissolved in the indium droplets, precipitating silica nanowires from the droplet surfaces. The wires grow and align themselves normal to the substrate as a result of normal incidence ion bombardment during processing. Without this ion bombardment, nanowire orientations are completely disordered, demonstrating that stranded silica nanowires are responsive to energetic ion irradiation - a largely unknown property of nanowires. Silicon dioxide, also known as silica, is a chemical compound that is an oxide of silicon. It is one of the most complex and most abundant families of materials, existing both as several minerals and being produced synthetically. This image has been color enhanced.
Size: 6600px × 2147px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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