We report the shape-controlled growth of single-crystalline germanium nanostructures by Au catalyst-assisted chemical-vapor syntheses using GeH4 as a precursor. By independently controlling the axial- and the radial-growth kinetics near the eutectic temperature of Au and Ge, we reproducibly direct the shape of Ge nanostructures from nanowires to nanocones with various aspect ratios. Based on our observation of the shape variation we discuss a phenomenological model of the growth of Ge nanostructures that goes beyond the conventional vapor-liquid-solid growth mechanism. The precise control of the shape in semiconductor nanostructures in our study suggests the implication of various applications into electronic and optical devices.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.