Abstract: A silicon-containing substrate including a top surface which comprises nanostructuring having a plurality of rounded depressions with depths greater than 20 nm.

Abstract: In an aspect of the disclosure, a process for forming nanostructuring on a silicon-containing substrate is provided. The process comprises (a) performing metal-assisted chemical etching on the substrate, (b) performing a clean, including partial or total removal of the metal used to assist the chemical etch, and (c) performing an isotropic or substantially isotropic chemical etch subsequently to the metal-assisted chemical etch of step (a). In an alternative aspect of the disclosure, the process comprises (a) performing metal-assisted chemical etching on the substrate, (b) cleaning the substrate, including removal of some or all of the assisting metal, and (c) performing a chemical etch which results in regularized openings in the silicon substrate.

Abstract: A process is provided for contacting a nanostructured surface. The process may include (a) providing a substrate having a nanostructured material on a surface, (b) passivating the surface on which the nanostructured material is located, (c) screen printing onto the nanostructured surface and (d) firing the screen printing ink at a high temperature. In some embodiments, the nanostructured material compromises silicon. In some embodiments, the nanostructured material includes silicon nanowires. In some embodiments, the nanowires are around 150 nm, 250 nm, or 400 nm in length. In some embodiments, the nanowires have a diameter range between about 30 nm and about 200 nm. In some embodiments, the nanowires are tapered such that the base is larger than the tip. In some embodiments, the nanowires are tapered at an angle of about 1 degree, about 3 degrees, or about 10 degrees. In some embodiments, a high temperature can be approximately 700 C, 750 C, 800 C, or 850 C.

Abstract: A process is provided for contacting a nanostructured surface. The process may include (a) providing a substrate having a nanostructured material on a surface, (b) passivating the surface on which the nanostructured material is located, (c) screen printing onto the nanostructured surface and (d) firing the screen printing ink at a high temperature. In some embodiments, the nanostructured material compromises silicon. In some embodiments, the nanostructured material includes silicon nanowires. In some embodiments, the nanowires are around 150 nm, 250 nm, or 400 nm in length. In some embodiments, the nanowires have a diameter range between about 30 nm and about 200 nm. In some embodiments, the nanowires are tapered such that the base is larger than the tip. In some embodiments, the nanowires are tapered at an angle of about 1 degree, about 3 degrees, or about 10 degrees. In some embodiments, a high temperature can be approximately 700 C, 750 C, 800 C, or 850 C.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the disclosure, a structure is provided which comprises a silicon substrate and a plurality of necklaces of silicon nanowires which are in direct physical contact with a surface of the silicon substrate, wherein the necklaces cover an area of the silicon substrate.

Abstract: In an aspect of the disclosure, a process for forming nanostructuring on a silicon-containing substrate is provided. The process comprises (a) performing metal-assisted chemical etching on the substrate, (b) performing a clean, including partial or total removal of the metal used to assist the chemical etch, and (c) performing an isotropic or substantially isotropic chemical etch subsequently to the metal-assisted chemical etch of step (a). In an alternative aspect of the disclosure, the process comprises (a) performing metal-assisted chemical etching on the substrate, (b) cleaning the substrate, including removal of some or all of the assisting metal, and (c) performing a chemical etch which results in regularized openings in the silicon substrate.

Abstract: In an aspect of the disclosure, a process for forming nanostructuring on a silicon-containing substrate is provided. The process comprises (a) performing metal-assisted chemical etching on the substrate, (b) performing a clean, including partial or total removal of the metal used to assist the chemical etch, and (c) performing an isotropic or substantially isotropic chemical etch subsequently to the metal-assisted chemical etch of step (a). In an alternative aspect of the disclosure, the process comprises (a) performing metal-assisted chemical etching on the substrate, (b) cleaning the substrate, including removal of some or all of the assisting metal, and (c) performing a chemical etch which results in regularized openings in the silicon substrate.

Abstract: In an aspect of this disclosure, a method is provided comprising the steps of: (a) providing a silicon-containing substrate, (b) depositing a first metal on the substrate, (c) etching the substrate produced by step (b) using a first etch, and (d) etching the substrate produced by step (c) using a second etch, wherein the second etch is more aggressive towards the deposited metal than the first etch, wherein the result of step (d) comprises silicon nanowires. The method may further comprise, for example, steps (b1) subjecting the first metal to a treatment which causes it to agglomerate and (b2) depositing a second metal.

Abstract: A process is provided for contacting a nanostructured surface. The process may include (a) providing a substrate having a nanostructured material on a surface, (b) passivating the surface on which the nanostructured material is located, (c) screen printing onto the nanostructured surface and (d) firing the screen printing ink at a high temperature. In some embodiments, the nanostructured material compromises silicon. In some embodiments, the nanostructured material includes silicon nanowires. In some embodiments, the nanowires are around 150 nm, 250 nm, or 400 nm in length. In some embodiments, the nanowires have a diameter range between about 30 nm and about 200 nm. In some embodiments, the nanowires are tapered such that the base is larger than the tip. In some embodiments, the nanowires are tapered at an angle of about 1 degree, about 3 degrees, or about 10 degrees. In some embodiments, a high temperature can be approximately 700 C, 750 C, 800 C, or 850 C.

Abstract: A process is provided for contacting a nanostructured surface. The process may include (a) providing a substrate having a nanostructured material on a surface, (b) passivating the surface on which the nanostructured material is located, (c) screen printing onto the nanostructured surface and (d) firing the screen printing ink at a high temperature. In some embodiments, the nanostructured material compromises silicon. In some embodiments, the nanostructured material includes silicon nanowires. In some embodiments, the nanowires are around 150 nm, 250 nm, or 400 nm in length. In some embodiments, the nanowires have a diameter range between about 30 nm and about 200 nm. In some embodiments, the nanowires are tapered such that the base is larger than the tip. In some embodiments, the nanowires are tapered at an angle of about 1 degree, about 3 degrees, or about 10 degrees. In some embodiments, a high temperature can be approximately 700 C, 750 C, 800 C, or 850 C.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the disclosure, a structure is provided which comprises a silicon substrate and a plurality of necklaces of silicon nanowires which are in direct physical contact with a surface of the silicon substrate, wherein the necklaces cover an area of the silicon substrate.

Abstract: In an aspect of this disclosure, a method is provided comprising the steps of: (a) providing a silicon-containing substrate, (b) depositing a first metal on the substrate, (c) etching the substrate produced by step (b) using a first etch, and (d) etching the substrate produced by step (c) using a second etch, wherein the second etch is more aggressive towards the deposited metal than the first etch, wherein the result of step (d) comprises silicon nanowires. The method may further comprise, for example, steps (b1) subjecting the first metal to a treatment which causes it to agglomerate and (b2) depositing a second metal.

Abstract: In an aspect of this disclosure, a method is provided comprising the steps of: (a) providing a silicon-containing substrate, (b) depositing a first metal on the substrate, (c) etching the substrate produced by step (b) using a first etch, and (d) etching the substrate produced by step (c) using a second etch, wherein the second etch is more aggressive towards the deposited metal than the first etch, wherein the result of step (d) comprises silicon nanowires. The method may further comprise, for example, steps (b1) subjecting the first metal to a treatment which causes it to agglomerate and (b2) depositing a second metal.

Abstract: In an aspect of the disclosure, a process for forming nanostructuring on a silicon-containing substrate is provided. The process comprises (a) performing metal-assisted chemical etching on the substrate, (b) performing a clean, including partial or total removal of the metal used to assist the chemical etch, and (c) performing an isotropic or substantially isotropic chemical etch subsequently to the metal-assisted chemical etch of step (a). In an alternative aspect of the disclosure, the process comprises (a) performing metal-assisted chemical etching on the substrate, (b) cleaning the substrate, including removal of some or all of the assisting metal, and (c) performing a chemical etch which results in regularized openings in the silicon substrate.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the disclosure, a structure is provided which comprises a silicon substrate and a plurality of necklaces of silicon nanowires which are in direct physical contact with a surface of the silicon substrate, wherein the necklaces cover an area of the silicon substrate.

Abstract: In an aspect of this disclosure, a structure is provided comprising a metallic holding layer and an array of semiconductor nanowires. A portion of each semiconductor nanowire is embedded in the metallic holding layer. The embedded nanowires do not penetrate through the metallic holding layer. The metallic holding layer makes electrical contact to the semiconductor nanowires.

Abstract: In an aspect of this disclosure, a method is provided comprising the steps of: (a) providing a silicon-containing substrate, (b) depositing a first metal on the substrate, (c) etching the substrate produced by step (b) using a first etch, and (d) etching the substrate produced by step (c) using a second etch, wherein the second etch is more aggressive towards the deposited metal than the first etch, wherein the result of step (d) comprises silicon nanowires. The method may further comprise, for example, steps (b1) subjecting the first metal to a treatment which causes it to agglomerate and (b2) depositing a second metal.

Abstract: A process is provided for contacting a nanostructured surface. The process may include (a) providing a substrate having a nanostructured material on a surface, (b) passivating the surface on which the nanostructured material is located, (c) screen printing onto the nanostructured surface and (d) firing the screen printing ink at a high temperature. In some embodiments, the nanostructured material compromises silicon. In some embodiments, the nanostructured material includes silicon nanowires. In some embodiments, the nanowires are around 150 nm, 250 nm, or 400 nm in length. In some embodiments, the nanowires have a diameter range between about 30 nm and about 200 nm. In some embodiments, the nanowires are tapered such that the base is larger than the tip. In some embodiments, the nanowires are tapered at an angle of about 1 degree, about 3 degrees, or about 10 degrees. In some embodiments, a high temperature can be approximately 700C, 750C, 800C, or 850C.