Encapsulated nanowires formed by nanotube-assisted oriented attachment

Carbon tubules are used to assemble Co3C or Co particles from an agglomerate into a straight line. The walls of the carbon tubules are grown by the slow catalytic decomposition of a fluorocarbon at 375 degreesC over the Co3C or Co particles. The nanoparticles then merge via oriented attachment to form nanowires. Depending on the nanoparticle material, nanowires of up to 1 mum long can be formed. Using atomic resolution electron microscopy images, the formed nanowires are seen to be of the same material as the initial nanoparticles.