Excellent photocatalysis of HF-treated silicon nanowires.

HF-treated silicon nanowires exhibited excellent photocatalysis, which were even better than some noble metal-modified ones, such as palladium, gold, silver, and rhodium. This phenomenon was critical in the application of silicon-related materials as they are normally employed as a catalyst carrier. These HF-treated silicon nanowires were also stable in solution over 1 week; consequently, a possible explanation for the stability was proposed.