Influence of metal electrodes on c‐axis orientation of AlN thin films deposited by DC magnetron sputtering

Nanocrystalline aluminum nitride (AlN) thin films were deposited on two types of metallic seed layers on silicon substrates, (111) textured Pt and (110) Mo, by reactive DC magnetron sputtering at low temperature (200 °C). Both textured films of Pt and Mo promote nucleation, thereby improving the crystallinity and epitaxial growth condition for AlN thin films. The deposited films were examined by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy techniques. The results indicated that the preferred orientation of crystallites greatly depends upon the kinetic energy of the sputtered species (target power) and seed layers used. Furthermore, AlN thin films with c‐axis perpendicular to the substrate grew on both types of metal electrodes at all power levels larger than 100 W. By comparing the structural properties and compressive stresses at perfect c‐axis orientation conditions, it is evident that AlN films deposited on (110) oriented Mo substrates exhibited superior properties as compared with Pt/Ti seed layers. Furthermore, less values of compressive stresses (?3 GPa) as compared with Pt/Ti substrates (?7.08 GPa) make Mo preferentially better candidate to be employed in the field of suspended Micro/Nano ‐ electromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS) for piezoelectric devices. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Au Nanowire–Au Nanoparticles Conjugated System which Provides Micrometer Size Molecular Sensors

We report a new type of molecular sensor using a Au nanowire (NW)–Au nanoparticles (NPs) conjugated system. The Au NW–NPs structure is fabricated by the self‐assembly of biotinylated Au NPs on a biotinylated Au NW through avidin; this creates hot spots between NW and NPs that strongly enhance the Raman signal. The number of the Au NPs attached to the NW is reproducibly proportional to the concentration of the avidin, and is also proportional to the measured surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signals. Since this well‐defined NW–NPs conjugated sensor is only a few micrometer long, we expect that development of multiplex nanobiosensor of a few tens micrometer size would become feasible by combining individually modified multiple Au NWs together on one substrate.     

Enhanced gas sensing by assembling Pd nanoparticles onto the surface of SnO2 nanowires

SnO₂ nanowires with an average 0.6 μm in length and about 25 nm in diameter were prepared by a hydrothermal method. The sensors were fabricated using SnO₂ nanowires assembled with Pd nanocrystals. The sensing properties of the sensors such as selectivity, response-recovery time and stability were tested at 290 °C. After assembling Pd nanocrystals onto the surface of SnO₂ nanowires, the gas sensing properties of the sensors toward H₂S were improved. The sensors based on Pd nanoparticle@SnO₂ nanowires exhibit high stability owing to stable single crystal structure. The mechanism of promoting sensing properties with Pd nanoparticles is discussed.     

Silver Coated Platinum Core–Shell Nanostructures on Etched Si Nanowires: Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) Processing and Application in SERS

A new method to prepare plasmonically active noble metal nanostructures on large surface area silicon nanowires (SiNWs) mediated by atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology has successfully been demonstrated for applications of surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)‐based sensing. As host material for the plasmonically active nanostructures we use dense single‐crystalline SiNWs with diameters of less than 100 nm as obtained by a wet chemical etching method based on silver nitrate and hydrofluoric acid solutions. The SERS active metal nanoparticles/islands are made from silver (Ag) shells as deposited by autometallography on the core nanoislands made from platinum (Pt) that can easily be deposited by ALD in the form of nanoislands covering the SiNW surfaces in a controlled way. The density of the plasmonically inactive Pt islands as well as the thickness of noble metal Ag shell are two key factors determining the magnitude of the SERS signal enhancement and sensitivity of detection. The optimized Ag coated Pt islands on SiNWs exhibit great potential for ultrasensitive molecular sensing in terms of high SERS signal enhancement ability, good stability and reproducibility. The plasmonic activity of the core‐shell Pt//Ag system that will be experimentally realized in this paper as an example was demonstrated in numerical finite element simulations as well as experimentally in Raman measurements of SERS activity of a highly diluted model dye molecule. The morphology and structure of the core‐shell Pt//Ag nanoparticles on SiNW surfaces were investigated by scanning‐ and transmission electron microscopy. Optimized core–shell nanoparticle geometries for maximum Raman signal enhancement is discussed essentially based on the finite element modeling.     

Thermal annealing effects on the dynamic photoresponse properties of Al-doped ZnO nanowires network

In this study, UV photodetectors based on a network of aluminium-doped zinc oxide (AZO) nanowires were manufactured at a low cost; for this purpose, a fast and simple fabrication process that involved dropping nanowires dispersion solution was employed instead of the conventional e-beam lithography process that is used to manufacture single nanowire–based UV photodetectors. It was demonstrated that nanowire network–based UV photodetectors provide a much faster UV photoresponse than conventional single nanowire–based UV photodetectors. The fast UV photoresponse of the fabricated UV photodetector can be attributed to the fact that the potential barriers formed in the nanowire network junctions effectively block the flow of electrons during the process of photocurrent decay. Furthermore, the UV photoresponse under illumination by a 254 nm UV source was studied as a function of the annealing temperature of the AZO nanowires network at a bias of 5 V. The fabricated UV photodetector showed the fastest response of 2 s to UV illumination in air when the sample was annealed in air for 1 h at 300 °C.     

Free standing modulation doped core–shell GaAs/AlGaAs hetero‐nanowires

Modulation doped AlGaAs/GaAs core–shell nanowire structures were grown by molecular beam epitaxy. A Si delta‐doping was introduced in the AlGaAs shell around the {110} facets of the GaAs core. The wires are typically highly resistive at low temperatures. However, they show a pronounced persistent photoconductivity effect indicating activation of free carriers from the delta‐doped shell to the GaAs core. The n‐type character of the channel is demonstrated by applying a back‐gate voltage. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A general solution to the Schrödinger–Poisson equation for a charged hard wall: Application to potential profile of an AlN/GaN barrier structure

A general, system-independent, formulation of the parabolic Schrödinger–Poisson equation is presented for a charged hard wall in the limit of complete screening by the ground state. It is solved numerically using iteration and asymptotic boundary conditions. The solution gives a simple relation between the band bending and sheet charge density at an interface. Approximative analytical expressions for the potential profile and wave function are developed based on properties of the exact solution. Specific tests of the validity of the assumptions leading to the general solution are made. The assumption of complete screening by the ground state is found be a limitation; however, the general solution provides a fair approximate account of the potential profile when the bulk is doped. The general solution is further used in a simple model for the potential profile of an AlN/GaN barrier structure. The result compares well with the solution of the full Schrödinger–Poisson equation.     

AlN纳米线宏观阵列的制备

借助二次模板法成功的合成了AlN纳米线宏观阵列,并进行了表征.主要研究CVD法制备有一定取向,直径均匀的AlN纳米线宏观阵列的过程.通过气相沉积法和利用PS球自组装模板制备了金属纳米颗粒模板;再以模板上的金属纳米颗粒作为催化剂,利用化学气相沉积在模板上合成AlN纳米线宏观阵列.借助SEM,TEM观察所得样品,AlN纳米线阵列面积约为0.3 mm×0.2 mm,直径和长度分布均匀,平均直径约为41 nm,平均长度为1.8 μm左右,分散密度和覆盖率大的六角结构AlN纳米线宏观阵列.得到了可控制备AlN纳米线 关键词： AlN纳米线阵列 模板法 CVD法 SEM     

Zn,O共掺杂实现p型AlN的第一性原理研究

基于密度泛函理论(density functional theory),采用第一性原理平面波超软赝势法,研究了纤锌矿AlN,Zn掺杂和Zn,O共掺杂AlN的晶体结构、能带、电子态密度、差分电荷分布及电荷布居数.计算结果表明:Zn,O共掺杂方法中引入激活施主O原子,能使受主能级向低能方向移动,形成了浅受主能级.同时,受主能带变宽、非局域化特征明显、从而提高了Zn原子的掺杂浓度和系统的稳定性.Zn,O共掺杂更有利于获得p型AlN. 关键词： 第一性原理 AlN 电子结构 p型共掺杂     

2D planar field emission devices based on individual ZnO nanowires

2D planar field emission devices based on individual ZnO nanowires were achieved on Si/SiO₂ substrate via a standard e-beam lithography method. The anode, cathode and ZnO nanowires were on the same substrate; so the electron field emission is changed to 2D. Using e-beam lithography, the emitter (cathode) to anode distance could be precisely controlled. Real time, in situ observation of the planar field emission was realized in a scanning electron microscope. For individual ZnO nanowires, an onset voltage of 200 V was obtained at 1 nA. This innovative approach provides a viable and practical methodology to directly implement into the integrated field emission electrical devices for achieving “on-chip” fabrication.