Surface-Energy Induced Formation of Single Crystalline
Bismuth Nanowires over Vanadium Thin Film at Room Temperature
- Publication date
- Publisher
Abstract
We report high-yield room-temperature
growth of vertical single-crystalline
bismuth nanowire array by vacuum thermal evaporation of bismuth over
a choice of arbitrary substrate coated with a thin interlayer of nanoporous
vanadium. The nanowire growth is the result of spontaneous and continuous
expulsion of nanometer-sized bismuth domains from the vanadium pores,
driven by their excessive surface energy that suppresses the melting
point of bismuth close to room temperature. The simplicity of the
technique opens a new avenue for the growth of nanowire arrays of
a variety of materials