A novel method for preparing carbon-coated germanium nanowires.

Single-crystalline Ge nanowires covered with amorphous carbon were synthesized by using GeO2 as the Ge source and reacting it with a mixed gas of C2H4 and NH3 at 750 °C. Electron microscopy studies show that the nanowires have a diameter distribution ranging from 15 to 50 nm and a length up to tens of micrometres. The growth mechanism of the Ge nanowires could be attributed to the well known vapour–liquid–solid (VLS) catalytic growth process promoted by nanoparticles attached at the end of the nanowires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]