SiO2-coated CdTe nanowires:: Bristled nano centipedes

CdTe nanowires with bristled SiO2 coatings resembling nanoscale centipedes were produced in a modified Stober process when mercaptosuccinic acid was used as a stabilizer. The reason for the unusual morphology of the coating is believed to be the nonuniform distribution of the stabilizers on the surface of the nanowire. Atomistic calculations of CdTe nanoparticles as a simplified model of a nanowire surface reveal that phase separation of the mercaptosuccinic acid and (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane is an energetically favorable process. These data indicate that the heterogeneity of the nanocolloid surface is an important property that may be taken advantage of for preparation of nanostructures of high complexity. From a practical perspective, the centipede nanowires can be a uniquely useful material for high-strength nanoscale composites.