We report a solution process for the synthesis of crystalline silicon from the liquid silane precursor cyclohexasilane (Si(6)H(12)). Polysilane films were crystallized through thermal and laser annealing, with plasma hydrogenation at atmospheric pressure generating further structural changes in the films. The evolution from amorphous to microcrystalline is characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy and impedance spectroscopy. A four-decade enhancement in the electrical conductivity is attributed to a disorder-order transition in a bonded Si network. Our results demonstrate a potentially attractive approach that employs a solution process coupled with ambient postprocessing to produce crystalline silicon thin films.

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A micro-capillary system capable of generating a focused collimated aerosol beam (CAB) is demonstrated both theoretically and experimentally. The approach is based on a manifestation of the Saffman force where high velocity (*100 m/s) aerosol particles, flowing through a micro-capillary (d * 100 lm and l * 1 cm), migrate perpendicular to the centerline of the capillary. Upon exiting the micro-capillary system, the particles maintain momentum, and when the aerosol is comprised of solid-inliquid dispersions such as Ag nanoparticle ink, the CAB approach enables printing of advanced materials features with linewidth B 10 lm.