Si nanowires synthesized from silicon monoxide by laser ablation

Abstract
By ablating a silicon monoxide target with a pulsed KrF excimer laser at 1200 °C in an Ar atmosphere, we have achieved production of high-purity Si nanowires in bulk quantities. The yield and linear growth rate can reach 30 mg/h and 500 μm/h, respectively. Transmission electron micrographs show that the sample of silicon nanowires consists of few nanoparticles.