Catalytic Growth of Germanium Oxide Nanowires, Nanotubes, and Germanium Nanowires: Temperature-Dependent Effect

One-dimensional GeO 2 and Ge nanostructures, including nanotubes, nanowires, and branched nanowires, were synthesized using Au as catalysts. White products of GeO 2 and brown products of Ge were fabricated at temperature regions of 500−600 and 300−400 °C, respectively. For the first time, we report the formation of single-crystalline GeO 2 nanotubes and branched nanowires. Detailed growth mechanisms of the nanowires, nanotubes, and branched nanowires are presented. Fabrication of one-dimensional nanostructures with different configurations and compositions simultaneously from a single precursor enables the diversity of nanotube/nanowire synthesis, as well as their potential applications in nanoscale photonic and electronic devices.