AI Article Synopsis
- Zinc phosphide (Zn3P2) nanowires are promising materials for future solar cells because they have good optoelectronic properties and their elements are plentiful on Earth.
- The study demonstrates a method to grow zinc phosphide superlattices through a process involving unique defects called periodic heterotwins, which help create zigzag structures along the nanowire.
- The research shows that even though there are chemical changes at the twinning boundary, the optical properties remain consistent, suggesting new possibilities for using II-V semiconductors in nanowire applications.
Article Abstract
Zinc phosphide (Zn3P2) nanowires constitute prospective building blocks for next generation solar cells due to the combination of suitable optoelectronic properties and an abundance of the constituting elements in the Earth's crust. The generation of periodic superstructures along the nanowire axis could provide an additional mechanism to tune their functional properties. Here we present the vapour-liquid-solid growth of zinc phosphide superlattices driven by periodic heterotwins. This uncommon planar defect involves the exchange of Zn by In at the twinning boundary. We find that the zigzag superlattice formation is driven by reduction of the total surface energy of the liquid droplet. The chemical variation across the heterotwin does not affect the homogeneity of the optical properties, as measured by cathodoluminescence. The basic understanding provided here brings new propsects on the use of II-V semiconductors in nanowire technology.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d0nr05852a | DOI Listing |
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