The compositional homogeneity of the metal particle during vapor–liquid–solid growth of nanowires

Summary, in English

The vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) mechanism is probably the most versatile method to fabricate semiconductor nanowires and several investigations assume a compositionally homogeneous catalyst particle. In this investigation we address the compositional homogeneity of the catalyst particle during growth of nanowires. Using diffusion calculations, we show that the particle is indeed homogeneous during VLS growth, but can have a strong concentration gradient during vapor–solid–solid growth, that is, growth with a solid particle. We also show that the response to a concentration change is extremely fast, meaning that if the concentration at the surface of the particle changes, the entire particle reaches this new concentration effectively instantaneously.

• Author: Jonas Johansson; Niels Chr Overgaard; Martin H. Magnusson
• Department/s: Solid State Physics; NanoLund: Centre for Nanoscience; Mathematics (Faculty of Engineering); ELLIIT: the Linköping-Lund initiative on IT and mobile communication; eSSENCE: The e-Science Collaboration
• Publishing year: 2020
• Language: English
• Publication/Series: Scientific Reports
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 1
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-67618-x
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Topic: Condensed Matter Physics; Nano Technology
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 2045-2322