Silicon nanowires have been synthesized by laser ablation of Si powder targets at 1200 °C. Transmission electron microscopy study showed that most Si nanowires had smooth surfaces and nearly the same diameter of about 16 nm. Beside the most abundant smooth-surface nanowires, four other forms of nanowires, named spring-shaped, fishbone-shaped, frog-egg-shaped, and necklace-shaped nanowires, were observed. The formation of nanowires into different shapes was explained by the two-step growth model based on the vapor–liquid–solid mechanism.

Needle-shaped PbTiO3 (PT) template particles were successfully synthesized using two different types of approaches, molten salt synthesis (MSS) and thermal synthesis method. In eutectic NaCl–KCl molten salt system, homogeneous and nonagglomerated needle-shaped PT particles were produced from PbO and needle-like TiO2 compound heated at 800–850°C for 2 h. The effect of heating temperature on the morphology of formed powders was studied in order to identify the optimum processing parameters. The template formation mechanism is discussed. Using thermal synthesis method, comparable needle-shaped PT crystalline particles were also obtained in one step. Plate-shaped PT powders were derived via flux synthesis. The effect of additives such as MnCl2 and LiF on the morphology of derived PT was studied. Adding a certain amount of MnCl2 led to the formation of well-defined plate-shaped PT particles. The structure and morphology of synthesized powders were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM).