Selective growth of silica nanowires on nickel nanostructures created by atomic force microscopy nanomachining

Abstract

We report the selective growth of amorphous silica nanowires on nickel nanostructures created by an atomic force microscopy nanomachining and lift-off process. Successful growth of patterned nanowire bunches or single nanowires on Si substrates has been realized by thermal annealing. The growth mechanism is found to be a combination of vapour–liquid–solid and solid–liquid–solid modes. In addition, the relationship between the nanowire length and the growth time has a nonlinear dependence. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)