Nd-doped silicon nanowires with room temperature ferromagnetism and infrared photoemission

Nd-doped silicon nanowires have been synthesized by a vapor transport and condensation method. The incorporation of neodymium within silicon nanowires was achieved by using NdCl3⋅6H2O powder as the doping source. Ferromagnetism and infrared photoluminescence at room temperature were discovered. The significant variation and versatility of the properties exhibited by the Nd-doped silicon nanowires are promising for exploitation for the advanced silicon-based devices.