Single nanowire extinction spectroscopy

Here we show the first direct extinction spectra of single one-dimensional (1D) semiconductor nanostructures obtained at room temperature utilizing a spatial modulation approach. (1) For these materials, ensemble averaging in conventional extinction spectroscopy has limited our understanding of the interplay between carrier confinement and their electrostatic interactions. (2-4) By probing individual CdSe nanowires (NWs), we have identified and assigned size-dependent exciton transitions occurring across the visible. In turn, we have revealed the existence of room temperature 1D excitons in the narrowest NWs.

Low temperature solution-phase growth of ZnSe and ZnSe/CdSe core/shell nanowires

High quality ZnSe nanowires (NWs) and complementary ZnSe/CdSe core/shell species have been synthesized using a recently developed solution-liquid-solid (SLS) growth technique. In particular, bismuth salts as opposed to pre-synthesized Bi or Au/Bi nanoparticles have been used to grow NWs at low temperatures in solution. Resulting wires are characterized using transmission electron microscopy and possess mean ensemble diameters between 15 and 28 nm with accompanying lengths ranging from 4-10 μm. Subsequent solution-based overcoating chemistry results in ZnSe wires covered with CdSe nanocrystals. By varying the shell's growth time, different thicknesses can be obtained and range from 8 to 21 nm. More interestingly, the mean constituent CdSe nanocrystal diameter can be varied and results in size-dependent shell emission spectra.

Expanding the one-dimensional CdS-CdSe composition landscape: axially anisotropic CdS 1-x Se x nanorods

We report the synthesis and characterization of CdS(1-x)Se(x) nanorods with axial anisotropy. These nanorods were synthesized via single injection of a mixture of trioctylphosphine sulfur and selenium precursors to a cadmium-phosphonate complex at high temperature. Transmission electron microscopy shows nanoparticle morphology changes with relative sulfur and selenium loading. When the synthetic selenium loading is between 5% and 10% of total chalcogenides, the nanorods exhibit pronounced axial anisotropy characterized by a thick "head" and a thin "tail". The nanorods' band gap red shifts with increasing selenium loading. X-ray diffraction reveals that CdS(1-x)Se(x) nanorods have a wurtzite crystal structure with a certain degree of alloying. High-resolution and energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirm the head of the anisotropic nanorods is rich in selenium, whereas the tail is rich in sulfur. Time evolution and mechanistic studies confirm the nanorods form by quick growth of the CdSe-rich head, followed by slow growth of the CdS-rich tail. Metal photodeposition reactions with 575 nm irradiation, which is mostly absorbed by the CdSe-rich segment, show effective electronic communication between the nanorod head and tail segments.

Synthesis and properties of colloidal heteronanocrystals

Colloidal heteronanocrystals (HNCs) can be regarded as solution-grown inorganic-organic hybrid nanomaterials, since they consist of inorganic nanoparticles that are coated with a layer of organic ligand molecules. The hybrid nature of these nanostructures provides great flexibility in engineering their physical and chemical properties. The inorganic particles are heterostructured, i.e. they comprise two (or more) different materials joined together, what gives them remarkable and unique properties that can be controlled by the composition, size and shape of each component of the HNC. The interaction between the inorganic component and the organic ligand molecules allows the size and shape of the HNCs to be controlled and gives rise to novel properties. Moreover, the organic surfactant layer opens up the possibility of surface chemistry manipulation, making it possible to tailor a number of properties. These features have turned colloidal HNCs into promising materials for a number of applications, spurring a growing interest on the investigation of their preparation and properties. This critical review provides an overview of recent developments in this rapidly expanding field, with emphasis on semiconductor HNCs (e.g., quantum dots and quantum rods). In addition to defining the state of the art and highlighting the key issues in the field, this review addresses the fundamental physical and chemical principles needed to understand the properties and preparation of colloidal HNCs (283 references).

In situ electrical monitoring of cation exchange in nanowires

Controlling the extent of cation exchange reactions is a promising route for tuning the material composition and properties of nanostructures. Here we demonstrate how measuring the conductivity of nanowires during cation exchange can be used to monitor the transition from CdSe to Ag(2)Se, in situ. In addition, by imaging the same wire mat region before and after complete cation exchange, we find that the shape and morphology of the nanowires are completely preserved.

Electrokinetic assembly of selenium and silver nanowires into macroscopic fibers

Solution-phase synthesized nanowires with high aspect ratios can be a challenge to assemble into desired structures. As synthesized, these nanostructures readily bend and entangle with each other to form larger aggregates. This manuscript reports a general procedure for directing the assembly of semiconducting and metallic nanowires into fibers that can easily span distances >1 cm. Dispersions of these nanostructures in a low dielectric solution are organized by electrokinetic techniques into fibers that can be isolated from solution. Theoretical studies suggest that the assembled fibers adopt an orientation along electric field lines in the solution. The number of assembled fibers is a function of the duration of the assembly process, the magnitude of the electric potential, and the initial concentration of nanowires dispersed in solution. These findings offer a general method for the assembly of nanowires into macroscopic fibers of tunable dimensions. Fibers of selenium nanowires isolated from solution can reversibly bend in response to a source of electrostatic charges positioned in close proximity to the free-standing fiber. These flexible selenium fibers also exhibit a photoconductive response when illuminated with white light.

An easy shortcut synthesis of size-controlled bismuth nanoparticles and their use in the SLS growth of high-quality colloidal cadmium selenide quantum wires

An easy shortcut synthesis of thermally stable, near-monodisperse Bi nanoparticles from BiCl(3) and Na[N(SiMe(3))(2)] is described. The diameters of the Bi nanoparticles are controlled in the range of 4-29 nm by varying the amounts of BiCl(3) and Na[N(SiMe(3))(2)] employed. Standard deviations in their diameter distributions are 5-15% of the mean diameters, consistent with near monodispersity. These Bi nanoparticles are shown to be the best currently available catalysts for the solution-liquid-solid (SLS) growth of high-quality CdSe quantum wires.

Origin of high photoluminescence efficiencies in CdSe quantum belts

CdSe quantum belts (QBs) having lengths of 0.5-1.5 microm and thicknesses of 1.5-2.0 nm exhibit high photoluminescence (PL) efficiencies of approximately 30%. Epifluorescence studies establish the PL spectra to be uniform along single QBs, and nearly the same from QB to QB. Photogenerated excitons are shown to be effectively delocalized over the entire QBs by position-selective excitation. Decoration of the QBs with gold nanoparticles indicates a low density of surface-trap sites, located primarily on the thin belt edges. The high PL efficiencies and effective exciton delocalization are attributed to the minimization of defective {1100} edge surface area or edge-top/bottom (face) line junctions in QBs relative to quantum wires having roughly isotropic cross sections, for which very low PL quantum efficiencies have been reported. The results suggest that trap sites can be minimized in pseudo-one-dimensional nanocrystals, such that the facile transport of energy and charge along their long axes becomes possible.

Electrically Controlling and Monitoring InP Nanowire Growth from Solution

Indium phosphide nanowires are of significant technological interest for applications ranging from single junction solar cells to high speed electronics. However, the efficient placement and integration of nanowires into devices remains a significant challenge. Here we extend the technique of electrically controlled solution-liquid-solid (EC-SLS) catalytic nanowire growth to indium phosphide. We are able to control the amount of nanowire growth by varying the bias voltage between the electrodes in solution, and to monitor nanowire bridging across the electrodes by recording the conductivity as a function of growth time. The as-grown indium phosphide nanowires exhibit n-type conductivity as was determined by the in situ integration of nanowires into a field effect transistor geometry. The ability to monitor nanowire growth and electrically control nanowire placement are valuable tools for fabricating nanowire devices. The EC-SLS process has the potential to aid in the fabrication of nanowire devices that could find applications in nanoelectronics, and as electrodes in solar cells and batteries.

Wavelength Sensitivity of Single Nanowire Excitation Polarization Anisotropies Explained through a Generalized Treatment of Their Linear Absorption

We investigate the excitation polarization anisotropy of individual semiconductor nanowires (NWs) by monitoring their band edge emission above 680 nm in order to clarify the origin of their strong polarization response. Samples studied include both CdSe and CdSe/CdS core/shell nanowires grown using solution chemistry as well as analogous wires made via chemical-vapor-deposition (CVD). In the limit of optically thick wires, with radii above ∼25 nm, we find NW optical responses consistent with the interaction between strong dielectric contrast influences and the onset of bulk-like behavior. Namely, a sizable wavelength dependence of the excitation polarization anisotropy (ρ(exc)) exists when NW diameters become comparable to the wavelength of light inside the wire. As a consequence, pronounced ρ(exc) rolloffs occur at short wavelengths. By contrast, thinner wires do not exhibit such wavelength dependencies, in agreement with earlier studies. We quantitatively explain observed wavelength sensitivities by modeling the NW as an absorbing dielectric cylinder under plane wave excitation. A comparison of predicted ρ(exc)-values to experimental numbers shows good agreement and confirms the existence of wavelength-dependent ρ(exc)-values in optically thick wires. Additional results of the model include generalized expressions for NW linear absorption cross-sections under parallel, perpendicular, and circularly polarized excitation. This study therefore adds to a growing body of knowledge about NW polarization anisotropies, specifically, their response in a size regime where dielectric contrast effects compete with the onset of bulk-like behavior.

An efficient templating approach for synthesis of highly uniform CdTe and PbTe nanowires

Highly uniform CdTe nanowires with a very high aspect ratio of approximately 1000 and an average diameter of 12 nm can be conveniently synthesized using ultrathin Te nanowires as templates via a low-temperature hydrothermal process. Several other interesting CdTe nanostructures, including tadpolelike, chainlike, and branched nanostructures, can also be fabricated by adjusting precursor concentrations and reaction temperature. The formation mechanism of uniform CdTe nanowires using highly reactive ultrathin Te nanowires as template has been discussed. The synthesized uniform CdTe nanowires can be well-dispersed in water or ethanol, and they may find potential applications in the fields of photovoltaics, biological sensors, and nanoscale electronics. The present templating method can also be extended to synthesize other one-dimensional telluride nanostructures such as PbTe nanowires with uniform diameter and high aspect ratios.

Spatially resolved photoluminescence study of single ZnO tetrapods

ZnO tetrapods and nanowires were fabricated by a simple method of thermal evaporation of pure Zn powder in the air. These nanostructures, formed in different temperature regions of the same apparatus, displayed distinct photoluminescence (PL) characteristics. Spatially resolved PL measurements on legs of individual tetrapods show that the green luminescence (GL) decreases with decreasing leg diameter, and there was no detectable GL from nanowires grown simultaneously. These PL properties suggest that the green luminescence may not come from surface states, but rather from bulk defects.