A perspective on ultralong silicon nanowires for flexible sensors

Flexible sensitive materials are important for the development of flexible sensors. As a dominant semiconductor, silicon is an excellent sensitive material for fabricating traditional rigid sensors. However, its applications in flexible sensors have been hindered by the rigidity and brittleness of commonly used Si wafers. In this Perspective, we focus on ultralong silicon nanowires (SiNWs), which are a kind of flexible Si materials. The synthesis of ultralong SiNWs, fabrication of SiNW fabrics, and their applications in flexible sensors are discussed. We also point out some challenges and future directions in this field.