Bulk-quantity Si nanosphere chains prepared from semi-infinite length Si nanowires

Bulk-quantity Si nanosphere chains have been fabricated. This is accomplished via the spheroidization of Si nanowires of semi-infinite lengths. The process has been extensively investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The nanosphere chains consisted of equally spaced Si crystalline nanospheres connected by Si-oxide bars. The transition from Si nanowires to Si nanosphere chains was determined by the annealing temperature, ambient pressure, initial Si nanowire diameters, and the oxide state of the outer layers of Si nanowires. The relationships between the geometry (size and spacing) of Si nanospheres, the initial state (diameter and oxide state) of Si nanowires, and the experimental conditions are discussed. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.