Patent ID: 7691201

Claim:
A method of controllably forming a three-dimensional assembly of isolated nanowires, each nanowire comprising at least two materials within a matrix of an other material, said method comprising: providing a substrate; forming a two-dimensional catalyst array on a major surface of said substrate, wherein said step of forming said catalyst array comprises: providing a mold with nanoscale protrusions forming all the individual elements of a desired pattern; coating said protrusions with a material containing said catalyst; providing a substrate; and transferring said catalyst to a major surface of said substrate, said major surface comprising a non-catalytic surface, to form a pattern of said catalyst on said major surface of said substrate; controllably growing in a third dimension an array of said nanowires corresponding with said catalyst array, said nanowires each comprising said at least two materials; and forming the matrix of the other material that fills in spaces between said nanowires.