Mesoporous materials as templates for semiconductor nanowire assembly

In this chapter is described a novel approach for synthesizing mesoporous silicas with tunable pore diameters, wall thickness and pore spacings that can be used as templates for the assembly of semiconductor nanowire arrays. Silicon and germanium nanowires, with size monodisperse diameters, can readily be formed within the mesoporous silica matrix using a supercritical fluid inclusion technique. These nano-composite materials display unique optical properties such as intense room temperature ultraviolet and visible photoluminescence. The implication of these mesoporous nanowire materials for future electronic and opto-electronic devices is discussed.