Self-Organized Hierarchical ZnS/SiO2 Nanowire Heterostructures

In situ synthesis of hierarchically-assembled three-dimensional ZnS nanostructures and 3D printed visualization

Nanomaterials have gained enormous interest in improving the performance of energy harvest systems, biomedical devices, and high-strength composites. Many studies were performed fabricating more elaborate and heterogeneous nanostructures then the structures were characterized using TEM tomographic images, upgrading the fabrication technique. Despite the effort, intricate fabrication process, agglomeration characteristic, and non-uniform output were still limited to presenting the 3D panoramic views straightforwardly. Here we suggested in situ synthesis method to prepare complex and hierarchically-assembled nanostructures that consisted of ZnS nanowire core and nanoparticles under Ag₂S catalyst. We demonstrated that the vaporized Zn and S were solidified in different shapes of nanostructures with the temperatures solely. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of synthesizing heterogeneous nanostructures, consisting of a nanowire from the vapor-liquid-solid and then nanoparticles from the vapor-solid grown mechanism by in situ temperature control. The obtained hierarchically-assembled ZnS nanostructures were characterized by various TEM technologies, verifying the crystal growth mechanism. Lastly, electron tomography and 3D printing enabled the nanoscale structures to visualize with centimeter scales. The 3D printing from randomly fabricated nanomaterials is rarely performed to date. The collaborating work could offer a better opportunity to fabricate advanced and sophisticated nanostructures.

Growth and NO2-Sensing Properties of Biaxial p-SnO/n-ZnO Heterostructured Nanowires

Biaxial p-SnO/n-ZnO heterostructured nanowires (average length of 10 μm) were grown onto a glass substrate by thermal evaporation in vacuum. These nanowires had spherical ball tips, and the size of the SnO part increased gradually from the top to the bottom of the nanowire, but the corresponding size of ZnO varied slightly. The Sn-Zn alloy formed in the tips resulted in determined as the catalyst of the growth of the ZnO nanowires. The growth process of the p-SnO/n-ZnO biaxial nanowires is discussed based on vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) based on the subsequent growth process: the VLS catalytic growth of the ZnO nanowire and subsequent epitaxial SnO growth on the sidewall of the pregrown ZnO nanowire. An epitaxial relationship, (001)_SnO//(110)_ZnO and [110]_SnO//[002]_ZnO, was observed in the biaxial p-SnO/n-ZnO heterostructured nanowires. The gas-sensing properties of the as-synthesized p-SnO/n-ZnO nanowires were investigated. The results show that the device exhibit a good performance to the ppb-level NO₂ at room temperature (25 °C) without light illumination. The detection limit of the p-SnO/n-ZnO sensor to NO₂ is 50 ppb. Moreover, the NO₂-sensing properties of the p-SnO/n-ZnO device were investigated under various relative humidity. Finally, the NO₂-sensing mechanism of the p-SnO/n-ZnO nanowires was proposed and discussed.

Flexible ultraviolet photodetectors with broad photoresponse based on branched ZnS-ZnO heterostructure nanofilms

The application of nanofilm networks made of branched ZnS-ZnO nanostructures as a flexible UV photodetector is demonstrated. The fabricated devices show excellent operational characteristics: tunable spectral selectivity, widerange photoresponse, fast response speed, and excellent environmental stability.

Silica nanorings on the surfaces of layered silicate

A simple approach to the synthesis of clay-silica nanocomposites is presented. Silica nanorings on the edges of clay sheets were synthesized by using a modified Stöber method. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy were employed to characterize the prepared nanocomposites. TEM results show that the average size of the nanorings increases with the growth of silica. XRD results indicate that the layered structures of clay can be found in the nanocomposite and the growth of silica nanorings expands the d spacing of clay platelets. The mechanism of the formation of the nanorings is discussed. The preparation of polystyrene (PS) brushes on the surfaces of silica nanorings by atom-transfer radical polymerization is also reported. The polymer nanocomposite with negatively charged clay surfaces and hydrophobic polymer brushes on the silica nanorings can be used in Pickering emulsions, and PS colloidal particles with clay-silica on the surfaces were prepared.

One-dimensional nanostructures for electronic and optoelectronic devices

One-dimensional (1-D) nanostructures have been the focus of current researches due to their unique physical properties and potential applications in nanoscale electronics and optoelectronics. They address and overcome the physical and economic limits of current microelectronic industry and will lead to reduced power consumption and largely increased device speed in next generation electronics and optoelectronics. This paper reviews the recent development on the device applications of 1-D nanostructures in electronics and optoelectronics. First, typical 1-D nanostructure forms, including nanorods, nanowires, nanotubes, nanobelts, and hetero-nanowires, synthesized from different methods are briefly discussed. Then, some nanoscale electronic and optoelectronic devices built on 1-D nanostructures are presented, including field-effect transistors (FETs), p-n diodes, ultraviolet (UV) detectors, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), nanolasers, integrated nanodevices, single nanowire solar cells, chemical sensors, biosensors, and nanogenerators. We then finalize the paper with some perspectives and outlook towards the fast-growing topics.

Hierarchical Cd4SiS6/SiO2 Heterostructure Nanowire Arrays

Novel hierarchical Cd4SiS6/SiO2 based heterostructure nanowire arrays were fabricated on silicon substrates by a one-step thermal evaporation of CdS powder. The as-grown products were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. Studies reveal that a typical hierarchical Cd4SiS6/SiO2 heterostructure nanowire is composed of a single crystalline Cd4SiS6 nanowire core sheathed with amorphous SiO2 sheath. Furthermore, secondary nanostructures of SiO2 nanowires are highly dense grown on the primary Cd4SiS6 core-SiO2 sheath nanowires and formed hierarchical Cd4SiS6/SiO2 based heterostructure nanowire arrays which stand vertically on silicon substrates. The possible growth mechanism of hierarchical Cd4SiS6/SiO2 heterostructure nanowire arrays is proposed. The optical properties of hierarchical Cd4SiS6/SiO2 heterostructure nanowire arrays are investigated using Raman and Photoluminescence spectroscopy.

Rapid synthesis of core/shell ZnS:Mn/Si nanotetrapods by a catalyst-free thermal evaporation route

We report the fabrication of a hybrid all semiconductor core/shell nanotetrapod structure consisting of crystalline ZnS:Mn core and amorphous Si shell for the first time. The nanostructures were produced via a catalyst-free rapid thermal evaporation technique. Core/shell nanotetrapods were formed in two steps: (i) formation of the crystalline ZnS:Mn tetrapods and (ii) simultaneous surface adsorption of the in situ formed Si vapor species providing the amorphous shell. Crystalline tetrapod formation was guided by the formation of cubic structured ZnS octahedrons with four active (111) polar growth planes, which served as the favored growth site for the four wurtzite structured legs of the tetrapods. Choice of chloride salt as the source of dopant ion was crucial for the in situ generation of Si vapor. At elevated temperature, chloride salt reacted with the sulfur vapor to produce S2Cl2 gas that etched the Si wafers, generating Si vapor. Suppression of the surface-state-related blue emission was observed in the core/shell structures that clearly supported the formation of a shell layer. Elimination of the surface states ensured efficient energy transfer to the dopant Mn ionic state, resulting in the strong orange emission via (4)T(1)-(6)A(1) electronic transition.

Magnesium catalyzed growth of SiO(2) hierarchical nanostructures by a thermal evaporation process

SiO(2) hierarchical nanostructures consisting of a wire-like main stem and lots of rod-like sub-branches have been synthesized by a magnesium catalyzed thermal evaporation process. It is indicated that magnesium plays a critical role in the synthesis of SiO(2) hierarchical nanostructures including promotion for SiO evaporation and hierarchical-like growth of SiO(2). Moreover, the photoluminescence (PL) analysis of the SiO(2) hierarchical nanostructures reveals that blue and ultraviolet (UV) emissions are detected, which are different from those of other SiO(2) nanostructures. Finally, the growth mechanism and PL emission of SiO(2) hierarchical nanostructures have been preliminarily discussed.

The synthesis and fabrication of one-dimensional nanoscale heterojunctions

There are a variety of methods for synthesizing or fabricating one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures containing heterojunctions between different materials. Here we review recent developments in the synthesis and fabrication of heterojunctions formed between different materials within the same 1D nanostructure or between different 1D nanostructures composed of different materials. Structures containing 1D nanoscale heterojunctions exhibit interesting chemistry as well as size, shape, and material-dependent properties that are unique when compared to single-component materials. This leads to new or enhanced properties or multifunctionality useful for a variety of applications in electronics, photonics, catalysis, and sensing, for example. This review separates the methods into vapor-phase synthesis, solution-phase synthesis, template-based synthesis, and other approaches, such as lithography, electrospinning, and assembly. These methods are used to form a variety of heterojunctions, including segmented, core/shell, branched, or crossed, from different combinations of semiconductor, metal, carbon, and polymeric materials.

Self-Assembly and Hierarchical Organization of Ga2O3/In2O3 Nanostructures

We report on the realization of novel 3-D hierarchical heterostructures with 6-and 4-fold symmetries by a transport and condensation technique. It was found that the major core nanowires or nanobelts are single-crystalline In2O3, and the secondary nanorods are single-crystalline monoclinic beta-Ga2O3 and grow either perpendicular on or slanted to all the facets of the core In2O3 nanobelts. Depending on the diameter of the core In2O3 nanostructures, the secondary Ga2O3 nanorods grow either as a single row or multiple rows. The one-step growth of the unique Ga2O3/In2O3 heteronanostructures is a spontaneous and self-organized process. The simultaneous control of nanocrystal size and shape together with the possibility of growing heterostructures on certain nanocrystal facets opens up novel routes to the synthesis of more sophisticated heterostructures as building blocks for opto- and nanoelectronics.

Multilayered Si/Ni nanosprings and their magnetic properties

A two-turn, eight-armed, rectangular Si/Ni heterogeneous nanospring structure on Si(100) has been fabricated using a multilayer glancing-angle deposition technique. The multilayered nanosprings with a height of approximately 1.98 mum were composed of alternating layers of amorphous Si nanorods approximately 580 nm in length and face-centered cubic Ni nanorods approximately 420 nm in length, both with a diameter of approximately 35 nm. The magnetic anisotropy of the nanosprings showed that the in-plane easy and hard axes were parallel and perpendicular to the Ni nanorod plane, respectively. The out-of-plane magnetic hysteresis loop was very sensitive to the applied magnetic field direction when rotating the nanosprings about their in-plane hard axis, and the magnetization measurement revealed that the nanosprings tilted at approximately 7.5 degrees toward the plane of the Si nanorods. The magnetic anisotropy of the nanosprings is determined by their structure, and the experimental results can be interpreted by the shape anisotropy energy.

Size-Tunable Synthesis of SiO2 Nanotubes via a Simple In Situ Templatelike Process

SiO(2) nanotubes with tunable diameters and lengths have been successfully synthesized via a simple in situ templatelike process by thermal evaporation of SiO, ZnS, and GaN in a vertical induction furnace. The structure and morphologies were systematically investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry. Studies found that both the diameters and lengths of the SiO(2) nanotubes can be effectively tuned by simply changing the reaction temperatures. The range of changes was from 30 nm (diameter) and several hundred micrometers (length) at 1450 degrees C to 100 nm (diameter) and 2-10 micrometers (length) at 1300 degrees C. Varying some other experimental parameters results in the formation of additional SiO(2)-based nanostructures, such as core-shell ZnS-SiO(2) nanocables, ZnS nanoparticle filled SiO(2) nanotubes, and fluffy SiO(2) spheres. Based on the observations, an in situ templatelike process was proposed to explain the possible growth mechanism.

Facile and Large-Scale Production of ZnO/Zn−Al Layered Double Hydroxide Hierarchical Heterostructures

ZnO/Zn-Al layered double hydroxide (ZnO/Zn-Al LDH) hierarchical architecture, a new type of ZnO-based heterostructure, has been synthesized directly on an Al substrate via a facile solution phase process. The firecracker-like heterostructures consist of uniform ZnO nanorods orderly standing at the edges of two-dimensional (2D) surfaces of Zn-Al LDH nanoplatelets. Experimental result obtained from the early growth stage indicates that the underlying Zn-Al LDH nanoplatelet arrays are well constructed with their (00l) planes perpendicular to the surface of Al substrate. We propose that the "edge effect" of Zn-Al LDH and the "lattice match" between ZnO and Zn-Al LDH are vital to the growth of such heterostructures. The effects of total solution volume and NH3.H2O concentration on the formation of heterostructures are investigated. It is found that other LDH-based complex structures can also be achieved controllably by varying the mentioned experimental factors. Our work is the first demonstration of fabricating intricate ZnO/Zn-Al LDH heterostructures as well as well-defined Zn-Al LDH arrays on an Al substrate, for which several promising applications such as optoelectronics, biosensors, and catalysis can be envisioned.

Carbon-Coated Single-Crystalline Zinc Sulfide Nanowires

Single-crystalline ZnS nanowires coated with graphitic carbon shells were synthesized by thermal evaporation of a mixture of ZnS and SnS powders in a graphite crucible. As-synthesized ZnS/C nanostructures were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscopy equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer. The ZnS core nanowires were formed by a Sn-catalytic vapor-liquid-solid process and grew along the [210] directions. Photoluminescence spectrum reveals that the carbon-coated ZnS nanowires have a strong emission band centered at 586 nm and a shoulder band at 645 nm.

Hierarchical Saw-like ZnO Nanobelt/ZnS Nanowire Heterostructures Induced by Polar Surfaces

Saw-like nanostructures composed of single-crystalline ZnO nanobelts and single-crystalline ZnS nanowires have been successfully synthesized by a vapor-solid process. Several techniques, including scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy, were used to investigate the structures, morphology, and photoluminescence properties of the products. Due to the similar crystal habits of wurtzite ZnO and ZnS with chemically active Zn-terminated (0001) and chemically inactive O-terminated (or S-terminated) (000) polar surfaces, hierarchical saw-like nanostructures were considered to be formed by the initiation of a chemically active Zn-terminated ZnO (0001) polar surface. Photoluminescence properties of the heterostructures, different from pure ZnO nanobelts or ZnS nanowires, were also studied at room temperature.

Synthesis and Interface Structures of Zinc Sulfide Sheathed Zinc−Cadmium Nanowire Heterojunctions

Zinc sulfide (ZnS) sheathed zinc (Zn)-cadmium (Cd) nanowire heterojunctions have been prepared by thermal evaporating of ZnS and CdS powders in a vertical induction furnace at 1200 degrees C. Studies found that both the Zn and Cd subnanowires, within a single nanoheterojunction, are single-crystallines with the growth directions perpendicular to the [210] plane, whereas the sheathed ZnS is polycrystalline with a thickness of ca. 5 nm. The Zn/Cd interface structure in the ZnS sheathed Zn-Cd nanowire heterojunctions was thoroughly experimentally studied by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and theoretically studied using a near-coincidence site lattice (NCSL) concept. The results show that the Cd and Zn have a crystalline orientation relationship as [0001]Zn//[0001]Cd, (10(-)10)Zn//(10(-)10)Cd, (01(-)10)Zn//(01(-)10)Cd, and ((-)1100)Zn//((-)1100)Cd.