High-rate synthesis of Si nanowires using modulated induction thermal plasmas

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Using 20 kW Ar–H2 pulse-modulated induction thermal plasma (PMITP) with time-controlled feeding of feedstock (TCFF), numerous Si nanowires were synthesized rapidly at 1,000 mg h−1 without the intentional addition of catalysts. The PMITP + TCFF method is our original method for nanomaterial synthesis. The PMITP periodically provides a unique field including higher-temperature plasma during “on-time” and a lower-temperature plasma during “off-time”. For rapid and efficient evaporation, metal-grade Si powder feedstock was intermittently injected synchronously into the generated Ar–H2 PMITP. The synthesized products were analyzed using various analytical techniques. The synthesized products were Si nanowires 10–30 nm in diameter with a SiOx surface layer.