Oriented Attachment Growth of Three‐Dimensionally Packed Trigonal Selenium Microspheres into Large‐Area Wire Networks

The formation of Se microwire networks by hydrothermal treatment in tungstosilicic acid solution is described. The kinetics of crystallization of the Se assembly is studied as a function of reaction time. During the formation process, single‐crystal Se rods can direct the self‐aggregation of the amorphous nanoparticles derived from a supersaturation precipitation reaction and promote their crystallization and transformation under mild hydrothermal conditions. In this system, the rod‐directed epitaxial aggregation of Se was clearly observed in addition to the traditional Ostwald ripening process.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)