Manganese dioxide modified silicon nanowires and their excellent catalysis in the decomposition of methylene blue

A redox between hydrofluoric acid and ammonium fluoride-treated silicon nanowires and potassium permanganate solution was investigated. The results showed that MnO2 nanoparticles might grow on the surface of silicon nanowires, which was confirmed with the transmission electron microscope. These MnO2 modified silicon nanowires were employed as catalysts in the decomposition of methylene blue using sodium borohydride as the reducing agent, which exhibited excellent catalysis with its reaction rate 6 times larger than the unsupported MnO2.