Self-assembled growth of coaxial crystalline nanowires

Coaxial crystalline nanowires have been synthesized by chemical vapor deposition. Recrystallization of a copper substrate provided a natural template for the self-assembled growth of nanowires. The core of the wires is made up of numerous faceted SiC nanowires typically 20-50 nm in diameter, encapsulated by larger hollow wires typically 0.2-1.0 mum in diameter. The nanowires are crystalline and catalyst free. A vapor-solid growth mechanism is proposed based on detailed morphology and structural characterization.