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Novel micrometer-sized Si-Sn-O structures with SiO[SUB2] nanowires (SiONWs) growing from their surfaces have been achieved at about 980°C on Si (111) wafer catalyzed by Sn vapor generated from Sn powders. The Si wafer itself served as a silicon source in the reaction. The micrometer-sized structures, with diameters of several micrometers to several tens of micrometers consisted of Sn, Si and O. The amorphous SiONWs growing from the surface of the micrometer-sized structures were smooth, with diameters about 120 nm and with a composition close to that of SiO[SUB2]. The growth mechanism of these novel structures is discussed briefly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large quantity of nanowires and nanotubes of silicon oxide are produced by using Fe–Co–Ni alloy nanoparticles as catalyst. The products have a uniform diameter of around 100 nm. The nanowires have a smooth surface and the lengths are up to 100 μm or more. A new morphology called a serrated joint nanotube was found. The alloy catalyst plays a key role in the synthesis process. Room-temperature photoluminescence measurement under excitation at 360 nm showed that the silicon oxide had a strong blue-green emission at 525 nm (about 2.36 eV), which may be related to oxygen defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aligned SiO[sub x] nanowire arrays standing on a Si substrate were successfully synthesized using a simple method by heating a single-crystalline Si slice covered with SiO[sub 2] nanoparticles at 1000 °C in a flowing Ar atmosphere. The SiO[sub x] nanowire arrays were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The SiO[sub x] nanowires become progressively thinner from bottom to top. The formation process of the SiO[sub x] nanowire arrays is closely related to a vapor–solid mechanism. Room-temperature photoluminescence measurements under excitation at 260 nm showed that the SiO[sub x] nanowire arrays had a strong blue–green emission at 500 nm (about 2.5 eV), which may be related to oxygen defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-yield synthesis of amorphous silicon oxide nanoropes (SiONRs) was achieved by using simple evaporation and oxidation of Si. Transmission electron microscopy observations show that the amorphous SiONRs have a length of up to several hundreds of micrometers and a diameter of 20 to 40 nm. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis reveals that the SiONRs consist of Si and O elements in an atomic ratio of approximately 1:1.2. The formation process of the SiONRs is closely related to a vapor–solid method. The SiONRs emit blue light at energies of 2.53 and 3.0 eV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SnO2/SiO2 nanocomposite xerogel was synthesized by using the about-to-gel silica sol as “nanoglue”. Tin oxide uniformly dispersed within the three-dimension network of the silica in the form of nanoparticles. The SnO2/SiO2 nanocomposite xerogel has a large specific surface area (SSA), which depends on the deposition time of the silica sol. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Using simple chemical vapor deposition method, the core-shell nanowires of FeCoNi alloy core with SiOx layers were made by two steps. As the FeCoNi alloy exhibits excellent soft magnetic properties and good thermal stability, the core-shell nanowires may be used in nanodevices such as the write heads of high-density magnetic recording systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]