Facile synthesis of silicon nanospheres and nanosheets using DC thermal plasma

Abstract Silicon nanospheres and nanosheets were directly synthesized from micro-silicon under atmospheric pressure using thermal plasma system, and collected from different locations. Average size of nanospheres was around 35 nm, and length/width of nanosheets varied from tens to hundreds nanometers with thickness in tens nanometers. Morphology of prepared nano-Si could be mainly affected by growth conditions after homogeneous nucleation. Continuous production of silicon nanospheres/nanosheets would be achieved by thermal plasma approach.