Flexible polymer-embedded Si wire arrays

The wire-array based Schottky diodes were prepared from the polymer-embedded Si wire arrays films. The study described the fabrication of arrays of highly oriented, single-crystalline Si wire light absorbers and charge conductors embedded in a polymeric film. Large area Si wire arrays were grown by the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth process on a silicon substrate was demonstrated. The wires were embedded into a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer matrix. The PDMS solution was cast into the Si wire array and subsequently cured. Cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy images of the PDMS/Si wire array composite films revealed intimate contact between the wires and the PDMS films. The thickness of the PDMS film determined both the structural integrity of the composite and the extent to which Si wires were exposed. The process resulted in arrays of well-ordered, vertically oriented, crystalline Si wires that were 1.5-2.0μm in diameter.