Abstract:Nano-sized silicon wire with several micrometers in length and about 200 nm in width was prepared by molten salt electrolysis process. Metallic silicon was produced by electrolysis at 700 ℃ for 5 h under 1.8 V cell voltage applying pre-sintered porous SiO2 powder as cathode, equimolar CaCl2-NaCl mixed molten salt as electrolyte, and graphite rod as anode. The micro-structure and morphology evolution of metallic silicon were studied just after silicon is electrochemical nucleated and further grew. The results suggest that after silicon is electrochemical nucleated, the crystalline is accumulated together to form ‘bead string’ structure, which constitutes rudiment of silicon nanowire. The ‘bead string’ structure constantly grows to form final nanoscale silicon wire under high operation temperature.