Author:
Johansson Jonas,Overgaard Niels Chr.,Magnusson Martin H.
Abstract
AbstractThe 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.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Reference28 articles.
1. Wagner, R. S. & Ellis, W. C. Vapor–liquid–solid mechanism of single crystal growth. Appl. Phys. Lett. 4, 89–90 (1964).
2. Givargizov, E. I. Fundamental aspects of VLS growth. J. Cryst. Growth 31, 20–30 (1975).
3. Hiruma, K. et al. Growth and characterization of nanometer-scale GaAs, AlGaAs and GaAs-InAs wires. IEEE Trans. Electron. E77, 1420–1425 (1994).
4. Borgstrom, M. T. et al. Towards nanowire tandem junction solar cells on silicon. IEEE J. Photovolt. 8, 733–740 (2018).
5. Guan, N. et al. in Light-Emitting Diodes. Solid State Lighting Technology and Application Series Vol. 4 (eds J. Li & G. Zhang) (Springer, 2019).