Surface energy-controlled in-plane growth of t-Se nanowires transformed from a-Se colloids

This study investigated the surface energy-controlled transformation of amorphous Se (a-Se) colloids into trigonal Se (t-Se) crystals on solid substrates. Hydrophilic surfaces generated nanowires laterally grown along the surface of the substrates, while on hydrophobic surfaces the nanowires on the colloidal surface were randomly oriented. The ripening was considered to govern the growth of t-Se nanowires. The in-plane growth of the nanowires along the substrates made possible the creation of a chemically interconnected nanowire network because the nanowires made branches on meeting other a-Se colloids and formed chemical junctions on encountering other growing nanowires.