Three-dimensional nanowire networks fabricated by ion track nanotechnology and their applications

Abstract The existing and future accelerator facilities at GSI FAIR offer unique opportunities for interdisciplinary research, especially material science nanotechnology. On their way through polymers, swift heavy ions with GeV energy deposit enormous densities along trajectory, generating long nanoscopic damage trails known as ion tracks. Ion-track technology utilizes the small track size (few nm) combined extensive length (up to 100 μ m more) synthesize control geometry of high-aspect-ratio nanostructures such tailored nanochannels nanowires. In particular, electrodeposition ion-track nanotechnology provide an excellent platform developing 3D networks nanowires controlled dimensions, composition crystallographic properties. Here, a summary recent results obtained on synthesis characterization stable architectures semiconductor semimetal nanowires, implementation in fields photoelectrochemistry thermoelectrics, is presented.