Flow-Solution-Liquid-Solid Growth of Semiconductor Nanowires: A Novel Approach for Controlled Synthesis

摘要: Semiconductor nanowires (SC-NWs) have potential applications in diverse technologies from nanoelectronics and photonics to energy harvesting storage due their quantum-confined opto-electronic properties coupled with highly anisotropic shape. Here, we explore new approaches an important solution-based growth method known as solution-liquid-solid (SLS) growth. In SLS, molecular precursors are reacted the presence of low-melting metal nanoparticles that serve molten fluxes catalyze SC-NWs. The mechanism is assumed be similar vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth, clear distinctions being conducted solution coordinating ligands at relatively lower temperatures (<300 C). resultant SC-NWs soluble common organic solvents processable, offering advantages such simplified processing, scale-up, ultra-small diameters for quantum-confinement effects, flexible choice materials group III-V groups II-VI, IV-VI, well truly ternary I-III-VI semiconductors recently demonstrates. Despite these SLS VLS offers several opportunities not allowed by conventional SLS. Namely, allows sequential addition facile synthesis complex axial heterostructures. addition, proceeds slowly compared allowing assessments kinetics.more » order retain processing flexibility afforded but add elements controlled VLS, transformed into a flow based adapting it microfluidic system. By this - so-called 'flow-SLS' (FSLS) now demonstrated unprecedented fabrication multi-segmented SC-NWs, e.g., 8-segmented CdSe/ZnSe defined either compositionally abrupt or alloyed interfaces function conditions. studied rates catalyst size/SC-NW diameter shown first time governed Gibbs-Thomson effects. Lastly, standpoint, report range substrates, including ITO-coated glass hybrid photovoltaic devices, comparing quasi zero-dimensional quantum-dot counterparts.« less