Synthesis of silicide-based nanosheet bundles using layered crystals as templates

Abstract

Low-dimensional materials are expected to be new materials for next-generation devices, but their mass synthesis and implementation in high-volume or large-area devices is one of the major challenges. In this paper, the synthesis of nanosheet bundles of silicon, silicide, and related materials using layered crystals such as CaSi₂ as templates is described. Powdered bundles comprising nanosheets with a thickness of several nanometers to several tens of nanometers were obtained, and the Si and silicide nanosheet bundles were also prepared in the form of microwalls on Si substrates. This paper introduces the progress from nanosheet bundle synthesis by solid–vapor phase reaction to nanosheet bundle synthesis in aqueous solutions, metal melts, and molten salts.