This disclosure relates to a system (500) and methods (600 and 1600) for creating nanowires (1202). A nanowire (1202) can be created by exposing (614) layers (102 and 104) of material in a superlattice 100 and dissolving and transferring 1610 material from edges (302) of the exposed layers (102) onto a substrate (1802). The nanowire (1202) can also be created by exposing (614) layers of material (102) in a superlattice (100) and depositing material onto edges (302) of the exposed layers (102).