title: Transformation of bulk alloys to oxide nanowires.
abstract: One dimensional (1D) nanostructures offer prospects for enhancing the electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties of a broad range of functional materials and composites, but their synthesis methods are typically elaborate and expensive. We demonstrate a direct transformation of bulk materials into nanowires under ambient conditions without the use of catalysts or any external stimuli. The nanowires form via minimization of strain energy at the boundary of a chemical reaction front. We show the transformation of multimicrometer-sized particles of aluminum or magnesium alloys into alkoxide nanowires of tunable dimensions, which are converted into oxide nanowires upon heating in air. Fabricated separators based on aluminum oxide nanowires enhanced the safety and rate capabilities of lithium-ion batteries. The reported approach allows ultralow-cost scalable synthesis of 1D materials and membranes.
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
authors.forename: Danni
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magasinski
authors.affiliation: Sila Nanotechnologies Inc., Alameda, CA 94501, USA.
authors.forename: Gene
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berdichevsky
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA. yushin@gatech.edu.
authors.forename: Gleb
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yushin