Photo-controlled redox of hydrogen-terminated silicon nanowire established by the reversible color alteration of methylene blue

The surface of hydrogen-terminated silicon nanowires was proved to be photo-active and redox-controllable under a visible light by the color alteration of methylene blue: colorless in dark and blue in light in the presence of H-SiNWs. The process of the redox reaction was monitored by a UV–vis spectrophotometry, showing a repeatable interconversion between methylene blue and lueco methylene blue within 2 h under conditions of alternant dark and light environments. During the redox process, oxygen was proved necessary for the reversible color alteration of methylene blue. The high repeatability in dark-reduction and photo-oxidation of methylene blue demonstrates the catalytic activity of ultrafine hydrogen-terminated silicon nanowires. Finally, a possible mechanism is deduced.

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► Silicon nanowires are reductive in dark and oxidative in light.
► Methylene blue indicates the controllable redox of silicon nanowires.
► The redox process of silicon nanowires needs oxygen attendance.