Self-catalytic growth of horizontal and straight Si nanowires on Si substrates using a sputter deposition technique

We report on the growth of horizontal and straight Si nanowires (NWs) on Si substrate using sputter deposition of the Si layer followed by thermal annealing at 1000 °C and above. The growth of horizontal NWs was achieved without the use of any metal catalyst. Uniform cylindrical shaped Si NWs with a diameter in the range of 50–60 nm and a length of up to 8 μm were synthesized. The as-synthesized Si NWs have a Si core covered with a thin amorphous native oxide layer, as revealed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The aspect ratio of these Si NWs is in the range of 100–160. Micro-Raman studies on the NWs reveal a tensile strain on the Si NW core due to presence of a thin oxide layer. From the Raman shift, we calculate a strain of 1.0% for the catalyst free Si NW. FTIR analysis indicates the presence of interstitial oxygen atoms in the Si NWs, as expected from oxidation of Si NWs. For comparison, metal catalyst (Au) assisted Si NWs have also been grown on Si(100) substrate by a similar process. These NWs have a similar diameter and a marginally higher aspect ratio. A model for the growth mechanism of horizontal NWs is presented. This represents one of the first examples of direct horizontal growth of straight Si NWs on commonly used Si substrates suitable for nanoelectronic device fabrication.     

Atomic resolution imaging of oxygen atoms close to heavy atoms by HRTEM and ED,using the superconductor SmFeAsO0.85F0.15 as an example

Imaging of light atoms has always been a challenge in high-resolution electron microscopy. Image resolution is mainly limited by lens aberrations, especially the spherical aberration of the objective lens. Image deconvolution could correct for the image distortion by lens aberrations and restore the structure projection, the resolution of which is limited by the information limit of the microscope. Electron diffraction unrestricted by lens aberrations could overcome this resolution limit. Here we show a combination of electron diffraction and image deconvolution to reveal simultaneously the atomic columns of O and considerably heavier Sm at a very close distance (1.17 Å) in iron-based superconductor SmFeAsO_0.85F_0.15 using a conventional 200 kV electron microscope. The approach used here, starting from an image and an electron diffraction pattern, has an advantage for those radiation-sensitive samples. Besides, it can be applied to simultaneously imaging light and heavy atoms, even though they have a big difference in atomic number and a much smaller atomic distance than the microscope resolution.     

Magnetic moment softening and domain wall resistance in Ni nanowires

We perform ab initio calculations of the electronic structure and conductance of atomic-size Ni nanowires with domain walls only a few atomic lattice constants wide. We show that the hybridization between noncollinear spin states leads to a reduction of the magnetic moments in the domain wall resulting in the enhancement of the domain wall resistance. Experimental studies of the magnetic moment softening may be feasible with modern techniques such as scanning tunneling spectroscopy.     

Tip‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy using single‐crystalline Ag nanowire as tip

We report the surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect from the apex of single‐crystalline Ag nanowires (NWs). We also fabricated tip‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) tips by attaching individual Ag NWs to W wires by using the alternating current dielectrophoresis (AC‐DEP) method. The single‐crystalline Ag NW tips could overcome many of the shortcomings of conventional TERS tips. Most importantly, the results obtained from TERS using single‐crystalline metal NWs are very reproducible, and the tips are also reusable. This development represents a significant progress in making TERS a reliable optical characterization technique with nanometer spatial resolution. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simulating the oxygen K-edge spectrum from grain boundaries in ceramic oxides using the multiple scattering methodology

In this paper we demonstrate the use of the multiple scattering methodology to interpret oxygen K-edge spectra from both the bulk and grain boundaries in a variety of ceramic oxides. The experimental electron energy loss spectra (EELS) used in this study, were obtained from a dedicated scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM). Using the STEM to obtain the spectra has the advantage that each spectrum can be acquired with atomic spatial resolution. While the energy resolution is limited to approximately 0.8 eV, and the angular integration in the microscope apertures precludes momentum resolved spectroscopy, this unprecedented spatial resolution allows the electronic structure at individual defect sites to be determined. Additionally, as the microscope can also provide an atomic resolution image of the defect, the relationship between the atomic structure of the defect and its local electronic structure can be determined. In practice, this is achieved by using the structure observed in the image to build the real space atomic cluster for multiple scattering simulations. Detailed interpretation of the simulations of oxygen K-edge spectra from bulk MgO, CaO, SrTiO3, TiO2, MnO2, Mn3O4, Mn2O3 and MnO are presented. In addition, the simulations from grain boundaries in TiO2 (undoped) and SrTiO3 (undoped and Mn doped) are discussed in relation to quantifying the changes in the local electronic structure that are a direct consequence of the defect structure. The simulations are used to make interpretations of the structure-property relationships at these grain boundaries.     

Polymer tips for application of atomic force microscopy

A hydrophobic polymer tip for atomic force microscopy has been fabricated by two-photon adsorbed photopolymerization techniques and has been applied for the high resolution imaging of a hydrophilic metal surface. Using optimized photopolymerization conditions, we have succeeded in fabricating sub-100-nm sized polymer tips. This fabricating resolution of two-photon adsorbed photopolymerization is also confirmed by other supporting experiments. The imaging results show that the capillary-force-induced image distortion can be successfully removed by applying a pure hydrophobic polymer tip with a lateral resolution better than 5 nm, which is difficult to achieve with a commercial tip without any environmental control.     

New progress of plasmonics in complex metal nanostructures

Noble metal nanostructures possess novel optical properties because of their collective electronic oscillations,known as surface plasmons(SPs).The resonance of SPs strongly depends on the material,surrounding environment,as well as the geometry of the nanostructures.Complex metal nanostructures have attracted research interest because of the degree of freedom in tailoring the plasmonic properties for more advanced applications that are unattainable by simple ones.In this review,we discuss the plasmonic properties of several typical types of complex metal nanostructures,that is,electromagnetically coupled nanoparticles(NPs),NPs/metal films,NPs/nanowires(NWs),NWs/NWs,and metal nanostructures supported or coated by dielectrics.The electromagnetic field enhancement and surface-enhanced Raman scattering applications are mainly discussed in the NPs systems where localized SPs have a key role.Propagating surface plasmon polaritons and relevant applications in plasmonic routers and logic gates using NWs network are also reviewed.The effect of dielectric substrates and surroundings of metal nanostructures to the plasmonic properties is also discussed.     

Identification and control of multiple leaky plasmon modes in silver nanowires

Leaky plasmon modes (LPMs) in metal nanowires (NWs), which combine the physical characteristic of both “plasmonics” and “leaky radiation”, present distinguished performances in terms of guiding and radiating light. In contrast to traditional light‐guiding in metal NWs with one single LPM, multiple LPMs are crucial for advanced uses such as augmenting data transmission channels, enhancing sensing performance, manipulating polarization and converting mode. Here, we demonstrate experimentally the control over multiple LPMs in pentagonal silver NWs. By combining far‐field real‐space imaging and leakage radiation microscopy, the three typical LPMs with fields mainly concentrating in corners surrounded by air are specifically identified. By manipulating excitation wavelengths and NW diameters, the number of the excited LPMs can be controlled. These findings reveal the physics of LPMs in silver NWs, thereby paving the way towards applying the high‐order leaky modes in silver NWs for photonic integrated circuits, nanoscale confinement, plasmonic sensing, QD‐nanowire coupling, etc.

     

Observation of Simplest Water Chains on Surface Stabilized by a Hydroxyl Group at One End

The key to fully understanding water-solid interfaces relies on the microscopic nature of hydrogen bond networks,including their atomic structures, interfacial interactions, and dynamic behaviors. Here, we report the observation of two types of simplest water chains on Au(111) surface which is expected unstable according to the rules of hydrogen network on noble metal surfaces. A common feature at the end of chain structures is revealed in high resolution scanning tunneling microscopy images. To explain the stability in observed hydrogen bond networks,we propose a structure model of the water chains terminated with a hydroxyl group. The model is consistent with detailed image analysis and molecular manipulation. The observation of simplest water chains suggests a new platform for exploring fundamental physics in hydrogen bond networks on surfaces.     

Stacking-faults-free zinc blende GaAs/AlGaAs axial heterostructure nanowires during vapor-liquid-solid growth

Pure zinc blende structure GaAs/AlGaAs axial heterostructure nanowires (NWs) are grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition on GaAs(111) B substrates using Au-catalyzed vapor-liquid-solid mechanism.Al adatom enhances the influence of diameters on NWs growth rate.NWs are grown mainly through the contributions from the direct impingement of the precursors onto the alloy droplets and not so much from adatom diffusion.The results indicate that the droplet acts as a catalyst rather than an adatom collector.     

Sol-flame synthesis of hybrid metal oxide nanowires

Hybrid metal oxide nanowires (NWs), with small characteristic diameter and large aspect ratio, can have unique and yet tunable chemical, optical and electrical properties by independently controlling the chemical compositions and morphologies of the individual components. Such hybrid NWs are promising building blocks in many applications, such as catalysis, sensors, batteries, solar cells and photoelectrochemical devices. However, these applications are hindered by the lack of scalable and economic methods for the synthesis of hybrid NWs. Here, we report a simple, scalable and new sol-flame method to synthesize various hybrid metal oxide NWs, including nanoparticle-shell decorated NWs (NP-shell@NW), NP-chain decorated NW (NP-chain@NW) and doped NWs. The sol-flame process first coats existing NWs with NPs or dopants precursors prepared by the sol–gel process, and then dissociates/oxidizes these precursors in flame. The sol-flame method uniquely combines the merits of the flame process (e.g., high temperature and fast heating rate) with low temperature sol–gel method (e.g., broad material choices and excellent chemical composition control). For both the NP-shell@NW and NP-chain@NW cases, the high temperature flame, compared to furnace, provides much faster heating rate and shorter duration for annealing, which evaporates and burns the precursor solvent rapidly, causing NPs to quickly nucleate around NWs without significant agglomeration. Hence, higher loading density of NPs with smaller sizes is decorated to the NWs, and the formed hybrid NP@NW exhibits significantly higher catalytic activity than that of the furnace-annealed sample. Similarly when using the sol-flame method to dope NWs, the high temperature flame enables rapid dopant diffusion and short annealing duration that maintains the morphology of the original materials and protects the delicate NW substrates from damage. We believe that the new sol-flame method can be applied to synthesize various 1-D hybrid metal oxide nanostructures, thereby impacting diverse application fields.     

Quantitative HRTEM investigation of nanoplatelets

High resolution transmission electron microscopy experiments were performed to investigate nanoplatelets induced by ion implantation into a germanium wafer. Atomistic models were used for image simulation in order to get quantitative information from the experimental images. The geometrical phase shift analysis technique was also employed to measure the strain field induced by such defects. We discuss the limits and artefacts imposed by each approach and show how these approaches can be combined to study the atomic structure of such defects and the strain field they induce.     

超表面图像显示技术研究

提出了一种通过超表面实现超高分辨率灰度图像的存储和显示方法。利用金属纳米砖阵列的偏振分光特性,结合马吕斯定律,将图像的灰度信息转换为纳米砖阵列中纳米砖的方向角排布,从而实现精确、连续的灰度调制。实验结果表明,可在该超表面的反射近场处观测到清晰的灰度图像,分辨率高达90 714ppi。这种基于超表面的图像显示技术设计方法简单灵活,且超表面具有体积小、重量轻、结构紧凑、易于集成等优势,因此可广泛应用于高密度光信息存储,高端产品防伪,信息加密等领域。     

Simulation of spin-resolved scanning tunneling microscopy: influence of the magnetization of surface and tip

We develop a first principles method to compute the magnetic axis of a crystal surface from corrugation amplitudes of spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy measurements. In this paper, we present the detailed electronic structure information of antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic Mn overlayers on W(1 1 0), our model system for spin-polarized tunneling on the atomic scale. We also perform image simulations on all surfaces. It is shown that the images of Mn overlayers are very sensitive to magnetic ordering of the surface, and while a high magnetic contrast can in principle be obtained, surface corrugation itself is generally at the lower limit of image resolution.     

Atomic structure of alkali halide surfaces

The atomic structure of surfaces of alkali halide crystals has been revealed by means of high-resolution dynamic force microscopy. True atomic resolution is demonstrated both on steps surrounding islands or pits, and on a chemically mixed crystal. We have directly observed the enhanced interaction at low-coordinated sites by force microscopy. The growth of NaCl films on metal surfaces and radiation damage in a KBr surface is discussed based on force microscopy results. The damping of the tip oscillation in dynamic force microscopy might provide insight into dissipation processes on the atomic scale. Finally, we present atomically resolved images of wear debris found after scratching a KBr surface. PACS 68.37.-d; 68.37.Ps; 75.55.Fv     

GaN nanowires for piezoelectric generators

We demonstrate the high potential of GaN nanowires (NWs) to convert mechanical energy into electric energy. Using an atomic force microscope equipped with a Resiscope module, an average output voltage of –74 mV and a maximum of –443 mV ± 2% per NW were measured. This latter value is the highest reported so far for GaN NWs. By considering these output signals, we have estimated an average and a maximum power density generated by one layer of GaN NWs of the order of 5.9 mW/cm² and 130 mW/cm², respectively. These results offer promising prospects for the use of GaN NWs for high‐efficiency ultracompact piezogenerators. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Unraveling the solid-liquid-vapor phase transition dynamics at the atomic level with ultrafast x-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy

X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) is a powerful probe of electronic and atomic structures in various media, ranging from molecules to condensed matter. We show how ultrafast time resolution opens new possibilities to investigate highly nonequilibrium states of matter including phase transitions. Based on a tabletop laser-plasma ultrafast x-ray source, we have performed a time-resolved (～3 ps) XANES experiment that reveals the evolution of an aluminum foil at the atomic level, when undergoing ultrafast laser heating and ablation. X-ray absorption spectra highlight an ultrafast transition from the crystalline solid to the disordered liquid followed by a progressive transition of the delocalized valence electronic structure (metal) down to localized atomic orbitals (nonmetal-vapor), as the average distance between atoms increases.     

Direct imaging of lipid-ion network formation under physiological conditions by frequency modulation atomic force microscopy

Various metal cations in physiological solutions interact with lipid headgroups in biological membranes, having an impact on their structure and stability, yet little is known about the molecular-scale dynamics of the lipid-ion interactions. Here we directly investigate the extensive lipid-ion interaction networks and their transient formation between headgroups in a dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayer under physiological conditions. The spatial distribution of ion occupancy is imaged in real space by frequency modulation atomic force microscopy with sub-Angstrom resolution.     

Metallic adhesion in atomic-size junctions

We report high resolution simultaneous measurements of electrical conductance and force gradient between two sharp gold tips as their separation is varied from the tunneling distance to atomic-size contact. The use of atomically sharp tips minimizes van der Waals interaction, making it possible to identify the short-range metallic adhesion contribution to the total force.     

一套用于研究原子团簇热力学的离子速度成像谱仪

原子团簇的激发温度可由反应产物（出射电子或碎片）的初始平动能这一可观测量间接获得,为了提高原子团簇激发温度的测量精度,设计并搭建了一套具有高动能分辨的离子速度成像谱仪。本谱仪的高动能分辨性能首先借助Simion8.0软件优化静电透镜和分子束限束装置的几何结构来实现,然后通过理论模拟证明本套谱仪具有预期好的动能分辨能力。设备搭建完成后,研究了C₆₀分子束在纳秒激光场中发生的延迟电离过程,获得了C₆₀+离子随延迟时间增加而逐渐变窄的二维时间切片图像。分析表明,激光脉冲产生的多个C₆₀+离子间的库仑耦合作用将会扩展二维切片图像的横向分布,提取库仑耦合作用对C₆₀+离子初始平动能的影响,并通过分析C₆₀+离子间的库仑耦合随延迟时间增加而逐渐变弱的定量依赖关系,证实了本套谱仪具有了设计预期的高动能分辨能力。这一工作为下一步基于离子速度成像技术细致研究分子热力学的相关课题提供技术参考。Excitation temperature of fragmenting atomic clusters can been extracted from the initial kinetic energies of ionic products. To improve the accuracy of the temperature measurements, we have designed an ionic velocity map imaging spectrometer with high kinetic energy resolution. Firstly, based on the simulations using Simion8.0 software, the high resolution is obtained by adjusting the structure of the electrostatic lenses and collimation of molecular beam. According to theoretical analysis, it is proved that the spectrometer has a well defined kinetic energy resolution. Then, we have studied the delay ionization processes of C60 induced by nanosecond laser. A series of narrowed two-dimensional time-sliced velocity images of the C60+ with increasing the delayed time were recorded. Analysis revealed that Coulomb force between C60+ clusters in same laser shots will broadening the transverse distribution of 2D image. Considering the influence of Coulomb force on initial kinetic energy of C60+ clusters, the high resolution has been proved by analysing the negative relationship between Coulomb force and delayed time. It indicates that the establishment of the spectrometer builds up a good basis for next experiments on the studies for molecular thermodynamics in atomic clusters.