The syntheses, properties and applications of Si, ZnO, metal, and heterojunction nanowires

Great efforts have been made recently to fabricate one-dimensional (1D) nanostructured materials and ordered nanomaterial arrays due to their novel chemical and physical properties for future application in nanodevices. One-dimensional nanostructures, such as nanowires (NWs), nanoribbons and nanotubes, are promising components in a wide range of nanoscale device applications. A large amount of fabrication methods have been developed to synthesize the nanomaterials, such as vapour growth and solution growth processes. In this feature article, we provide a review of some progress in the field of one-dimensional inorganic nanowires, including the syntheses, structures, properties and applications of nanowires and nanowire arrays of Si, ZnO, metals, heterojunctions, etc. materials.