title: Aligned silica nanowires on the inner wall of bubble-like silica film: the growth mechanism and photoluminescence.
abstract: Large area, aligned amorphous silica nanowires grow on the inner wall of bubble-like silica film, which is prepared by thermal evaporation of a molten gallium-silicon alloy in a flow of ammonia. These nanowires are 10-20 nm in diameter and 0.5-1.5 µm in length. The bubble-like silica film functions as a substrate, guiding the growth of silica nanowires by a vapour-solid process. This work helps us to clearly elucidate the growth mechanism of aligned amorphous silica nanowires, ruling out the possibility of liquid gallium acting as a nucleation substrate for the growth of the aligned silica nanowires. A broad emission band from 290 to 600 nm is observed in the photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of these nanowires. There are seven PL peaks: two blue emission peaks at 430 nm (2.88 eV) and 475 nm (2.61 eV); and five ultraviolet emission peaks at 325 nm (3.82 eV), 350 nm (3.54 eV), 365 nm (3.40 eV), 385 nm (3.22 eV) and 390 nm (3.18 eV), which may be related to various oxygen defects.
authors: Yiqing
authors: Y
authors: Chen
authors: Qingtao
authors: Q
authors: Zhou
authors: Haifeng
authors: H
authors: Jiang
authors: Yong
authors: Y
authors: Su
authors: Haihua
authors: H
authors: Xiao
authors: Li-Ang
authors: LA
authors: Zhu
authors: Liang
authors: L
authors: Xu