41 research outputs found
Axial GaAs/Ga(As,Bi) Nanowire Heterostructures
Bi-containing III-V semiconductors constitute an exciting class of metastable
compounds with wide-ranging potential optoelectronic and electronic
applications. However, the growth of III-V-Bi alloys requires group-III-rich
growth conditions, which pose severe challenges for planar growth. In this
work, we exploit the naturally-Ga-rich environment present inside the metallic
droplet of a self-catalyzed GaAs nanowire to synthesize metastable
GaAs/GaAsBi axial nanowire heterostructures with
high Bi contents. The axial GaAsBi segments are
realized with molecular beam epitaxy by first enriching only the
vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) Ga droplets with Bi, followed by exposing the
resulting Ga-Bi droplets to As at temperatures ranging from 270 to
380\,^{\circ}C to precipitate GaAsBi only under
the nanowire droplets. Microstructural and elemental characterization reveals
the presence of single crystal zincblende GaAsBi
axial nanowire segments with Bi contents up to (102). This work
illustrates how the unique local growth environment present during the VLS
nanowire growth can be exploited to synthesize heterostructures with metastable
compounds
Indocyanine Green-Loaded Polydopamine-Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites with Amplifying Photoacoustic and Photothermal Effects for Cancer Theranostics
Photoacoustic (PA) imaging and photothermal therapy (PTT) as light-induced theranostic platforms have been attracted much attention in recent years. However, the development of highly efficient and integrated phototheranostic nanoagents for amplifying PA imaging and PTT treatments poses great challenges. Here, we report a novel phototheranostic nanoagent using indocyanine green-loaded polydopamine-reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites (ICG-PDA-rGO) with amplifying PA and PTT effects for cancer theranostics. The results demonstrate that the PDA layer coating on the surface of rGO could effectively absorb a large number of ICG molecules, quench ICG's fluorescence, and enhance the PDA-rGO's optical absorption at 780 nm. The obtained ICG-PDA-rGO exhibits stronger PTT effect and higher PA contrast than that of pure GO and PDA-rGO. After PA imaging-guided PTT treatments, the tumors in 4T1 breast subcutaneous and orthotopic mice models are suppressed completely and no treatment-induced toxicity being observed. It illustrates that the ICG-PDA-rGO nanocomposites constitute a new class of theranostic nanomedicine for amplifying PA imaging and PTT treatments
Sequential directional deposition of one-sided (In,Ga)N shells on GaN nanowires by molecular beam epitaxy
Capitalizing on the directed nature of the atomic fluxes in molecular beam
epitaxy, we propose and demonstrate the sequential directional deposition of
lateral (In,Ga)N shells on GaN nanowires. In this approach, a sub-monolayer
thickness of each constituent atomic species, i.e. Ga, In, and N, is deposited
subsequently from the same direction by rotating the sample and operating the
shutters accordingly. Using multiple iterations of this process, we achieve the
growth of homogeneous shells on a single side facet of the nanowires. For
higher In content and thus lattice mismatch, we observe a strain-induced
bending of the nanowire heterostructures. The incorporation of In and the
resulting emission spectra are systematically investigated as a function of
both the growth temperature and the In/Ga flux ratio
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Synthesis of surfactant-free Cu–Pt dendritic heterostructures with highly electrocatalytic performance for methanol oxidation reaction
A facile and free surfactant strategy is explored to synthesize Cu–Pt bimetallic nano-heterostructures with dendritic exterior. For comparison, the Cu–Pt coral-like nanoparticles are fabricated by using CTAC as a surfactant. The well-designed Cu–Pt dendritic spherical heterostructures exhibit superior enhanced electrocatalytic activity and stability toward methanol oxidation reaction in alkaline media, compared to the Cu–Pt coral-like nanoparticles and the commercial Pt/C, respectively. The advanced technique for fabricating Cu–Pt dendritic spherical heterostructures could pave a way to pursue low-cost Pt-based catalysts, maintaining highly promoted electrocatalytic performance and durability
Self-Assembly of Well-Separated AlN Nanowires Directly on Sputtered Metallic TiN Films
Herein, the self-assembled formation of AlN nanowires (NWs) by molecular beam epitaxy on sputtered TiN films on sapphire is demonstrated. This choice of substrate allows growth at an exceptionally high temperature of 1180 °C. In contrast to previous reports, the NWs are well separated and do not suffer from pronounced coalescence. This achievement is explained by sufficient Al adatom diffusion on the substrate and the NW sidewalls. The high crystalline quality of the NWs is evidenced by the observation of near-band-edge emission in the cathodoluminescence spectrum. The key factor for the low NW coalescence is the TiN film, which spectroscopic ellipsometry and Raman spectroscopy indicate to be stoichiometric. Its metallic nature will be beneficial for optoelectronic devices using these NWs as the basis for (Al,Ga)N/AlN heterostructures emitting in the deep ultraviolet spectral range
Quantum mechanics in an evolving Hilbert space
Many basis sets for electronic structure calculations evolve with varying external parameters, such as moving atoms in dynamic simulations, giving rise to extra derivative terms in the dynamical equations. Here we revisit these derivatives in the context of differential geometry, thereby obtaining a more transparent formalization, and a geometrical perspective for better understanding the resulting equations. The effect of the evolution of the basis set within the spanned Hilbert space separates explicitly from the effect of the turning of the space itself when moving in parameter space, as the tangent space turns when moving in a curved space. New insights are obtained using familiar concepts in that context such as the Riemann curvature. The differential geometry is not strictly that for curved spaces as in general relativity, a more adequate mathematical framework being provided by fiber bundles. The language used here, however, will be restricted to tensors and basic quantum mechanics. The local gauge implied by a smoothly varying basis set readily connects with Berry's formalism for geometric phases. Generalized expressions for the Berry connection and curvature are obtained for a parameter-dependent occupied Hilbert space spanned by nonorthogonal Wannier functions. The formalism is applicable to basis sets made of atomic-like orbitals and also more adaptative moving basis functions (such as in methods using Wannier functions as intermediate or support bases), but should also apply to other situations in which nonorthogonal functions or related projectors should arise. The formalism is applied to the time-dependent quantum evolution of electrons for moving atoms. The geometric insights provided here allow us to propose new finite-difference time integrators, and also better understand those already proposed