Formation of single tiers of bridging silicon nanowires for transistor applications using vapor-liquid-solid growth from short silicon-on-insulator sidewalls.

Single tiers of silicon nanowires that bridge the gap between the short sidewalls of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) source/drain pads are formed. The formation of a single tier of bridging nanowires is enabled by the attachment of a single tier of Au catalyst nanoparticles to short SOI sidewalls and the subsequent growth of epitaxial nanowires via the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) process. The growth of unobstructed nanowire material occurs due to the attachment of catalyst nanoparticles on silicon surfaces and the removal of catalyst nanoparticles from the SOI-buried oxide (BOX). Three-terminal current-voltage measurements of the structure using the substrate as a planar backgate after VLS nanowire growth reveal transistor behaviour characteristics.