Ordered arrays of rare-earth silicide nanowires on Si(0 0 1)

Ordered arrays of self-assembled ErSi2−x, SmSi2−x, and DySi2−x nanowires aligned along Si [1 1 0] have been grown at 600°C on Si(0 0 1) vicinal substrates. The nanowires grow perpendicular to the Si dimer rows and are 1.5–5 nm wide, approximately 2 monolayers high and up to 1 μm long. These nanowires were characterized in situ with scanning tunneling microscopy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]