A single-step reaction for silicon and germanium nanorods

A single-step reaction has been developed for colloidal quantum-size silicon (Si) and germanium (Ge) nanorods. The nanorods are formed by solution-liquid-solid (SLS) growth from tin (Sn) seed particles prepared by in situ reduction of a molecular tin(II) complex by trisilane, the reactant for Si nanorod growth. Using the same procedure, Ge nanorods can be grown by including a diphenyl germane reactant. The nanorod length could be adjusted from several nanometers to more than a micrometer without significant increase of diameter by manipulating reactant concentrations. One small step for nanorods: A single-step reaction for crystalline Si and Ge nanorods has been developed. Nanorods grow by solution-liquid-solid (SLS) growth from Sn seeds formed in situ from a Sn reactant (see figure; DPG=diphenyl germane, PVP-HDE= poly(vinylpyrrolidinone)hexadecane). The nanorod dimensions are controlled by varying reactant concentrations.