Nd-doped silicon nanowires with room temperature ferromagnetism and infrared photoemission

Nd-doped silicon nanowires have been synthesized by a vapor transport and condensation method. The incorporation of neodymium within silicon nanowires was achieved by using NdCl3 center dot 6H(2)O powder as the doping source. Ferromagnetism and infrared photoluminescence at room temperature were discovered. The significant variation and versatility of the properties exhibited by the Nd-doped silicon nanowires are promising for exploitation for the advanced silicon-based devices.