Gold‐Enhanced Low‐Temperature Oxidation of Silicon Nanowires

Liquid gold: The oxidation of a 1D Si nanowire (SiNW; see picture: I) before heat treatment) proceeds through Si out-diffusion promoted by the interaction of Si with an Au droplet to produce a hollow silicon oxide nanowire (II). The Au particle changes its shape to a nanocone and the excess Au is trapped by the Si oxide nanowire (III). Almost complete conversion of the SiNW into an oxide nanowire (IV) is observed.