Synthesis and electrical properties of the metal-silicide nanostructures

Abstract

Metal silicide nanostructures have been synthesized by spontaneous chemical vapor transport and reaction method. The temperature and the vapor flow rate were shown to critically influence the growth of nanostructures. Various phases and morphologies, such as single-stem nanowires, three-dimensional nanowires networks, and aloe-like nanowires have been synthesized. Very low turn-on field (1.42 V/µm) and good conductance in field-emission and electrical property measurements indicates that metal-silicide nanowires is potentially useful.