Nanotechnology, Silica Nanowire, SEM
This high-resolution SEM photograph depicts a free-standing and self-aligned silica nanowire. Development of free-standing nanowire arrays is of technological interest for future energy conversion and energy storage devices. This silica nanowire is made of many individual silica strands or fibers and possesses an indium droplets at its tip. Energetic ion bombardment and the unique growth energetics affect its final appearance. Mediated by a droplet of liquid indium, this nanowire emerges and grows several microns tall. The droplet intercepts silicon atoms emitted from a nearby source. Water vapor added to the growth environment reacts with silicon dissolved in the indium droplet, precipitating a stranded silica nanowire from the droplet surface. The wire grows and aligns itself normal to the substrate as a result of normal incidence ion bombardment during processing. Without this ion bombardment, the nanowire orientation would be random, demonstrating that stranded silica nanowires are very 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.
Size: 3239px × 3900px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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