Self-assembled silicon nanotubes with one-dimensional structure have been synthesized from silicon monoxide powder under supercritically hydrothermal conditions with a temperature of 470 °C and a pressure of 6.8 MPa. The silicon nanotubes were identified by transmission electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The results show that the silicon nanotubes (SiNT) have closed caps. The structures of the silicon nanotubes are hollow inner pore, crystalline silicon wall layers with a 0.31 nm interplanar spacing and 2–3 nm amorphous silica outer layers. Pure crystalline silicon nanotubes survive after etching the silicon nanotubes with 5% HF acid for enough time to imply that the self-assembled silicon nanotubes are stable. A possible theoretical reason for the growth of SiNTs from SiO under supercritically hydrothermal conditions was also proposed.

• Received 11 October 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.116102