Germanium nanowires: Synthesis, electrical and catalytic properties

A simple method by the decomposition of tetra-cis-9-octadecenoic germanium in thermal solvent was developed to prepare germanium nanowires with different diameters. Electrical transport measurements showed that larger diameter size Ge nanowires displayed good ohmic contact with metal electrodes while the nonohmic contact behavior was displayed between smaller diameter Ge nanowires and metal electrodes. The surface of these synthesized Ge nanowires has very high reactivity, the rough surface of Ge nanowires can be used as a center of nucleation for the growth of ZnO nanowires. The trace amount of Ge present in the nanowires, which could provide the green luminescence by either donor-acceptor pair or donor-hole recombination. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.