1 research outputs found
Complete Replacement of Metal in Metal Oxide Nanowires via Atomic Diffusion: In/ZnO Case Study
Atomic diffusion is a fundamental
process that dictates material
science and engineering. Direct visualization of atomic diffusion
process in ultrahigh vacuum in situ TEM could comprehend the fundamental
information about metal–semiconductor interface dynamics, phase
transitions, and different nanostructure growth phenomenon. Here,
we demonstrate the in situ TEM observations of the complete replacement
of ZnO nanowire by indium with different growth directions. In situ
TEM analyses reveal that the diffusion processes strongly depend and
are dominated by the interface dynamics between indium and ZnO. The
diffusion exhibited a distinct ledge migration by surface diffusion
at [001]-ZnO while continuous migration with slight/no ledges by inner
diffusion at [100]-ZnO. The process is explained based on thermodynamic
evaluation and growth kinetics. The results present the potential
possibilities to completely replace metal-oxide semiconductors with
metal nanowires without oxidation and form crystalline metal nanowires
with precise epitaxial metal–semiconductor atomic interface.
Formation of such single crystalline metal nanowire without oxidation
by diffusion to the metal oxide is unique and is crucial in nanodevice
performances, which is rather challenging from a manufacturing perspective
of 1D nanodevices