Characterization of silicon oxide nanowires prepared by hydrothermal treatment using slow dissolution of bulk glass source materials

Silicon oxide nanowires were successfully synthesized using a low-temperature hydrothermal treatment (200°C) without the use of metallic catalysts. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed nanowires having uniform distribution and straight morphology with diameters ranging from 50 to 100 nm and lengths up to ca. 60 μm. TEM results suggest that the nanowires consist of a crystalline core and an amorphous sheath. The nanowires were produced by hydrothermal treatment based on our original concept of slow structure formation by the dissolution of bulk glass source materials (borosilicate glasses), which can be used to supply a continuous source solution.