Size controlled growth of silica nanowires by thermal decomposition of thin gold films on silicon

Control over nanowire growth is an important requirement for future nanotechnology devices because the physical structure and chemical properties of nanowires are critically affected by diameter, length, atomic composition, and nanowire density. Here, we report size controlled growth of silica nanowires by the formation of nanometer sized gold (Au) islands (catalyst particles) during thermal decomposition of Au thin films on silicon (Si).