Electrical Characteristics and Chemical Stability of Non-Oxidized, Methyl-Terminated Silicon Nanowires

Silicon nanowires (Si NWs) modified by covalent Si−CH₃ functionality, with no intervening oxide, show atmospheric stability, high conductance values, low surface defect levels, and allow for the formation of air-stable Si NW Field-Effect Transistors (FETs) having on−off ratios in excess of 10⁵ over a relatively small gate voltage swing (±2 V).