Dye degradation induced by hydrogen-terminated silicon nanowires under ultrasonic agitations.

A method for degradation of environmentally hazardous dyes using silicon nanowires (SiNWs) has been developed. Environmentally unfriendly methyl red was degraded with assistance of H-terminated SiNWs under ultrasonic agitation. The hydrogenated surfaces of SiNWs are shown to be responsible for the surface reaction and decay of methyl red. The rate of degradation increases with the amount of SiNWs and agitation power. SiNWs after their application can be recycled and reactivated for further uses by a simple heating in hydrogen plasmas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]