Size-dependent growth of CdO nanowires mediated by Au nanoparticles in plasma-assisted MBE

We report on the Au-assisted growth of CdO nanowires on p-type Si(100) substrates by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. Particular attention is given to the influence of Au particle size on nanowire morphology. A clear dependence of nanowire length and diameter on the size of the Au droplets is observed, demonstrating effective control over nanowire dimensions. The structural and morphological properties of the nanowires were investigated using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, as well as X-ray diffraction.