title: Spreading of liquid AuSi on vapor-liquid-solid-grown Si nanowires.
abstract: Vapor-liquid-solid growth of high-quality Si nanowires relies on the stability of the liquid metal seed. In situ transmission electron microscopy shows that liquid AuSi seed spreads along the sidewalls of Si nanowires for some growth conditions. This liquid thin film phase separates to form solid Au clusters as the nanowire is quenched below the solidus temperature. The length that the liquid film spreads from the seed and its thickness can be explained by considering the spreading thermodynamics of droplets on cylinders.
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical, Aerospace, Chemical and Materials Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287-6106, USA.
authors.forename: Prashanth
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Madras
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dailey
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drucker
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry; D017612:Gold Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D044367:Phase Transition; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions; D013499:Surface Properties; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D017612:Gold Compounds; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D012996:Solutions; D012825:Silicon