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Gorshkov VN, Stretovych MO, Semeniuk VF, Kruglenko MP, Semeniuk NI, Styopkin VI, Gabovich AM, Boiger GK. Hierarchical Structuring of Black Silicon Wafers by Ion-Flow-Stimulated Roughening Transition: Fundamentals and Applications for Photovoltaics. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:2715. [PMID: 37836356 PMCID: PMC10574651 DOI: 10.3390/nano13192715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Ion-flow-stimulated roughening transition is a phenomenon that may prove useful in the hierarchical structuring of nanostructures. In this work, we have investigated theoretically and experimentally the surface texturing of single-crystal and multi-crystalline silicon wafers irradiated using ion-beam flows. In contrast to previous studies, ions had relatively low energies, whereas flow densities were high enough to induce a quasi-liquid state in the upper silicon layers. The resulting surface modifications reduced the wafer light reflectance to values characteristic of black silicon, widely used in solar energetics. Features of nanostructures on different faces of silicon single crystals were studied numerically based on the mesoscopic Monte Carlo model. We established that the formation of nano-pyramids, ridges, and twisting dune-like structures is due to the stimulated roughening transition effect. The aforementioned variety of modified surface morphologies arises due to the fact that the effects of stimulated surface diffusion of atoms and re-deposition of free atoms on the wafer surface from the near-surface region are manifested to different degrees on different Si faces. It is these two factors that determine the selection of the allowable "trajectories" (evolution paths) of the thermodynamic system along which its Helmholtz free energy, F, decreases, concomitant with an increase in the surface area of the wafer and the corresponding changes in its internal energy, U (dU>0), and entropy, S (dS>0), so that dF=dU - TdS<0, where T is the absolute temperature. The basic theoretical concepts developed were confirmed in experimental studies, the results of which showed that our method could produce, abundantly, black silicon wafers in an environmentally friendly manner compared to traditional chemical etching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vyacheslav N. Gorshkov
- Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, National Technical University of Ukraine, Prospect Beresteiskyi, 37, 03056 Kyiv, Ukraine;
- G.V. Kurdyumov Institute for Metal Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 36 Academician Vernadsky Boulevard, 03142 Kyiv, Ukraine
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GH, UK
| | - Mykola O. Stretovych
- Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, National Technical University of Ukraine, Prospect Beresteiskyi, 37, 03056 Kyiv, Ukraine;
| | - Valerii F. Semeniuk
- Institute of Physics of the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences, Nauka Avenue, 46, 03028 Kyiv, Ukraine; (V.F.S.); (M.P.K.); (V.I.S.); (A.M.G.)
- GreSem Innovation LLC, Vyzvolyteliv Avenue, 13, 02660 Kyiv, Ukraine;
| | - Mikhail P. Kruglenko
- Institute of Physics of the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences, Nauka Avenue, 46, 03028 Kyiv, Ukraine; (V.F.S.); (M.P.K.); (V.I.S.); (A.M.G.)
- GreSem Innovation LLC, Vyzvolyteliv Avenue, 13, 02660 Kyiv, Ukraine;
| | | | - Victor I. Styopkin
- Institute of Physics of the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences, Nauka Avenue, 46, 03028 Kyiv, Ukraine; (V.F.S.); (M.P.K.); (V.I.S.); (A.M.G.)
| | - Alexander M. Gabovich
- Institute of Physics of the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences, Nauka Avenue, 46, 03028 Kyiv, Ukraine; (V.F.S.); (M.P.K.); (V.I.S.); (A.M.G.)
| | - Gernot K. Boiger
- ICP Institute of Computational Physics, ZHAW Zürich University of Applied Sciences, Wildbachstrasse 21, CH-8401 Winterthur, Switzerland
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Gorshkov VN, Tereshchuk VV, Bereznykov OV, Boiger GK, Fallah AS. Dynamics of Quasi-One-Dimensional Structures under Roughening Transition Stimulated by External Irradiation. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:1411. [PMID: 35564120 PMCID: PMC9099773 DOI: 10.3390/nano12091411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
We studied the striking effect of external irradiation of nanowires on the dynamics of their surface morphology at elevated temperatures that do not destroy their crystal lattice. Numerical experiments performed on the basis of the Monte Carlo model revealed new possibilities for controlled periodic modulation of the cross-section of quasi-one-dimensional nanostructures for opto- and nanoelectronic elements. These are related to the fact that external irradiation stimulates the surface diffusion of atoms. On the one hand, such stimulation should accelerate the development of the well-known spontaneous thermal instability of nanowires (Rayleigh instability), which leads to their disintegration into nanoclusters. On the other hand, this leads to the forced development of the well-known roughening transition (RT) effect. Under normal circumstances, this manifests itself on selected crystal faces at a temperature above the critical one. The artificial stimulation of this effect on the lateral surface of quasi-one-dimensional structures determines many unpredictable scenarios of their surface dynamics, which essentially depend on the orientation of the nanowire axis relative to its internal crystal structure. In particular, the long-wave Rayleigh breakup observed in absence of external irradiation transforms into strongly pronounced short-wave metastable modulations of the cross-section (a chain of unduloids). The effect of the self-consistent relationship between the Rayleigh instability and RT is dimensional and can be observed only at relatively small nanowire radii. The fact is analyzed that, for the manifestation of this effect, it is very important to prevent significant heating of the nanowire when surface diffusion is stimulated. A number of developed theoretical concepts have already found confirmation in real experiments with Au and Ag nanowires irradiated by electrons and Ag+ ions, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vyacheslav N. Gorshkov
- Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, National Technical University of Ukraine, 37 Prospect Peremogy, 03056 Kiev, Ukraine; (V.V.T.); (O.V.B.)
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA
| | - Volodymyr V. Tereshchuk
- Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, National Technical University of Ukraine, 37 Prospect Peremogy, 03056 Kiev, Ukraine; (V.V.T.); (O.V.B.)
| | - Oleksii V. Bereznykov
- Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, National Technical University of Ukraine, 37 Prospect Peremogy, 03056 Kiev, Ukraine; (V.V.T.); (O.V.B.)
| | - Gernot K. Boiger
- Institute of Computational Physics, Zürich University of Applied Sciences, Wildbachstrasse 21, 8401 Winterthur, Switzerland;
| | - Arash S. Fallah
- Department of Mechanical, Electronic and Chemical Engineering, OsloMet, Pilestredet 35, St. Olavs Plass, 0130 Oslo, Norway;
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Gorshkov VN, Tereshchuk VV, Sareh P. Roughening transition as a driving factor in the formation of self-ordered one-dimensional nanostructures. CrystEngComm 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d0ce01404d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Peculiar scenarios in the dynamics of BCC and FCC 1D-nanostructures leading to the formation of ultra-short, and sometimes stable, high-amplitude surface modulations are analysed and the means of achieving the desired periodicity are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vyacheslav N. Gorshkov
- National Technical University of Ukraine, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute
- Kiev 03056
- Ukraine
- Center for Advanced Materials Processing
- Departments of Chemistry and Physics
| | - Vladimir V. Tereshchuk
- National Technical University of Ukraine, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute
- Kiev 03056
- Ukraine
| | - Pooya Sareh
- Creative Design Engineering Lab (Cdel)
- Department of Mechanical
- Materials, and Aerospace Engineering
- School of Engineering
- University of Liverpool
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Walbert T, Muench F, Yang Y, Kunz U, Xu BX, Ensinger W, Molina-Luna L. In Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy Analysis of Thermally Decaying Polycrystalline Platinum Nanowires. ACS NANO 2020; 14:11309-11318. [PMID: 32806050 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c03342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Owing to their large surface area, continuous conduction paths, high activity, and pronounced anisotropy, nanowires are pivotal for a wide range of applications, yet far from thermodynamic equilibrium. Their susceptibility toward degradation necessitates an in-depth understanding of the underlying failure mechanisms to ensure reliable performance under operating conditions. In this study, we present an in-depth analysis of the thermally triggered Plateau-Rayleigh-like morphological instabilities of electrodeposited, polycrystalline, 20-40 nm thin platinum nanowires using in situ transmission electron microscopy in a controlled temperature regime, ranging from 25 to 1100 °C. Nanowire disintegration is heavily governed by defects, while the initially present, frequent but small thickness variations do not play an important role and are overridden later during reshaping. Changes of the exterior wire morphology are preceded by shifts in the internal nanostructure, including grain boundary straightening, grain growth, and the formation of faceted voids. Surprisingly, the nanowires segregate into two domain types, one being single-crystalline and essentially void-free, while the other preserves void-pinned grain boundaries. While the single-crystalline domains exhibit fast Pt transport, the void-containing domains are unexpectedly stable, accumulate platinum by surface diffusion, and act as nuclei for the subsequent nanowire splitting. This study highlights the vital role of defects in Plateau-Rayleigh-like thermal transformations, whose evolution not only accompanies but guides the wire reshaping. Thus, defects represent strong parameters for controlling the nanowire decay and must be considered for devising accurate models and simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torsten Walbert
- Department of Materials and Earth Sciences, Materials Analysis Group, Technical University of Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Straße 2, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Falk Muench
- Department of Materials and Earth Sciences, Materials Analysis Group, Technical University of Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Straße 2, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Yangyiwei Yang
- Department of Materials and Earth Sciences, Mechanics of Functional Materials Group, Technical University of Darmstadt, Otto-Berndt-Straße 3, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Ulrike Kunz
- Department of Materials and Earth Sciences, Physical Metallurgy Group, Technical University of Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Straße 2, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Bai-Xiang Xu
- Department of Materials and Earth Sciences, Mechanics of Functional Materials Group, Technical University of Darmstadt, Otto-Berndt-Straße 3, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Ensinger
- Department of Materials and Earth Sciences, Materials Analysis Group, Technical University of Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Straße 2, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Leopoldo Molina-Luna
- Department of Materials and Earth Sciences, Advanced Electron Microscopy Group, Technical University of Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Straße 2, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
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Gorshkov VN, Tereshchuk VV, Sareh P. Diversity of anisotropy effects in the breakup of metallic FCC nanowires into ordered nanodroplet chains. CrystEngComm 2020. [DOI: 10.1039/c9ce01893j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The manifestation of anisotropy of surface energy density in the dynamics of 1D-nanostuctures, when annealed below melting temperature in different conditions, is studied on the basis of an analytical approach and Monte Carlo kinetic model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vyacheslav N. Gorshkov
- National Technical University of Ukraine
- Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute
- Kiev 03056
- Ukraine
| | - Vladimir V. Tereshchuk
- National Technical University of Ukraine
- Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute
- Kiev 03056
- Ukraine
| | - Pooya Sareh
- School of Engineering
- University of Liverpool
- London EC2A 1AG
- UK
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