Various Applications of Nanowires

Abstract

In this era of nanotechnology, nanowires (NWs) propose potential impact on electronics, computing, memory, data storage, communications, manufacturing, health, medicine, national security, and other economic sectors as well. NWs offer excellent surface-to-volume ratio (interface phenomena), low defect density, high optical output, and controllable n-type conductivity, making them more appropriate and sensitive for sensing applications. NWs with their ultra-sensitive and real-time detection capabilities lend their applications in nanobiosensors, chemical sensors, gas sensors, and electrochemical sensors. NWs have been used in improving the optical absorption as well as for the collection efficacy in photovoltaic devices. NWs having small size, low weight, low cost for mass production, and are also compatible with commercial planar processes for large-scale circuitry. In the chapter, the authors are focusing to summarize the recent advances in NWs with their potential applications in various fields such as research, health, security, education, entertainment, and power generation.