Electrochemical formation of novel nanowires and their dynamic effects

Novel and uniform ß-Sn nanowires surrounded by graphitic material (fully filled tubes; 40–50% of the overall material, length =2 µm; =100 nm o.d.) are produced by passage of a current between graphite rods immersed in molten mixtures of LiCl and SnCl2 under argon at 600°C. Prolonged electron beam irradiation (under HRTEM) of the nanowires leads to axial growth, re-orientations and allied dynamic transformations. The technique may be applied to other soft metals in order to generate filled nanotubes.