Growth and structure analysis of tungsten oxide nanorods using environmental TEM

WO3 nanorods targeted for applications in electric devices were grown from a tungsten wire heated in an oxygen atmosphere inside an environmental transmission electron microscope, which allowed the growth process to be observed to reveal the growth mechanism of the WO3 nanorods. The initial growth of the nanorods did not consist of tungsten oxide but rather crystal tungsten. The formed crystal tungsten nanorods were then oxidized, resulting in the formation of the tungsten oxide nanorods. Furthermore, it is expected that the nanorods grew through cracks in the natural surface oxide layer on the tungsten wire

Probing Nucleation Mechanism of Self-Catalyzed InN Nanostructures

The nucleation and evolution of InN nanowires in a self-catalyzed growth process have been investigated to probe the microscopic growth mechanism of the self-catalysis and a model is proposed for high pressure growth window at ~760 Torr. In the initial stage of the growth, amorphous InNx microparticles of cone shape in liquid phase form with assistance of an InNx wetting layer on the substrate. InN crystallites form inside the cone and serve as the seeds for one-dimensional growth along the favorable [0001] orientation, resulting in single-crystalline InN nanowire bundles protruding out from the cones. An amorphous InNx sheath around the faucet tip serves as the interface between growing InN nanowires and the incoming vapors of indium and nitrogen and supports continuous growth of InN nanowires in a similar way to the oxide sheath in the oxide-assisted growth of other semiconductor nanowires. Other InN 1D nanostructures, such as belts and tubes, can be obtained by varying the InN crystallites nucleation and initiation process

Organic molecule-functionalized Zn3P2 nanowires for photochemical H2 production: DFT and experimental analyses

Hydrogen production via photochemical reactions in water/methanol solutions containing Zn3P2 nanowires functionalized with an organic molecular layer is shown to be between 217 and 405 times higher than that obtained in absence of the molecular layer. Combined surface characterization and theoretical analyses are used to elucidate aspects of the photochemical reaction process. It is found that the protective layer exerts a passivation role decreasing the rate of nanowire degradation, while facilitating electron transfer for the hydrogen evolution reaction.Fil: Ramos Sanchez, G.. Texas A&M University; Estados UnidosFil: Albornoz, Marcelo David. Texas A&M University; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Yu, Y. H.. Texas A&M University; Estados UnidosFil: Cheng, Z.. Texas A&M University; Estados UnidosFil: Vasiraju, V.. Texas A&M University; Estados UnidosFil: Vaddiraju, S.. Texas A&M University; Estados UnidosFil: El Mellouhi, F.. Texas A&M University at Qatar; QatarFil: Balbuena, Perla Beatriz. Texas A&M University; Estados Unido