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Examining the crystal growth that influences the electronic device output from vertical arrays of ZnO nanowires

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 February 2014

Alex M. Lord ,
Michael B. Ward ,
Alex S. Walton ,
Jonathan Evans ,
Nathan Smith ,
Thierry G. Maffeis  and
Steve P. Wilks
Alex M. Lord
Affiliation:
Centre for Nanohealth, College of Engineering, University of Swansea, Singleton Park, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom
Michael B. Ward
Affiliation:
Institute for Materials Research, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
Alex S. Walton
Affiliation:
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
Jonathan Evans
Affiliation:
Centre for Nanohealth, College of Engineering, University of Swansea, Singleton Park, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom
Nathan Smith
Affiliation:
Multidisciplinary Nanotechnology Centre, College of Engineering, College of Science, University of Swansea, Singleton Park, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom
Thierry G. Maffeis
Affiliation:
Centre for Nanohealth, College of Engineering, University of Swansea, Singleton Park, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom
Steve P. Wilks
Affiliation:
Multidisciplinary Nanotechnology Centre, College of Engineering, College of Science, University of Swansea, Singleton Park, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom
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Abstract

ZnO nanowire (NW) arrays were examined with Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) in cross-section after preparation by Focused Ion Beam (FIB) milling. This technique revealed that ZnO nanowires grown using a Au catalyzed vapor technique typically have Au particles at the NW tips, and also randomly dispersed across the base crystal growth that joins adjacent NWs. It is shown the adjacent NWs and the combined base growth is one crystal structure which can be used as a back electrical contact making fabrication of vertical array devices possible. However, the base growth displays detrimental features such as embedded Au particles and lattice defects which can affect the electrical output through depletion regions and scattering centers. In an effort to overcome these problems we investigate a growth method that is nucleated through a minor alteration of the a-plane sapphire surface roughness via a weak chemical etch. Observations of various stages of the growth show the growth nucleates as separate nanoislands that grow in c-plane alignment with Sapphire (1-210), and as growth continues these islands meet and form a polycrystalline film. Further growth initiates nanowire growth and the formation of a single crystal base layer and NW structure that can cover several square millimeter’s. This allows high quality arrays that are relatively free from defects to be formed without any metals contamination and ready for further device processing.

Keywords

nanostructuretransmission electron microscopy (TEM)crystal growth
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1659: Symposium SS/XX – Micro- and Nanoscale Systems – Novel Materials, Structures and Devices , 2014 , pp. 101 - 106
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2014 

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References

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