Optical absorption associated with the one-dimensional joint density of states of an intersubband transition in bismuth nanowires is reported. The previously observed strong absorption in bismuth nanowires at ϳ1000 cm Ϫ1 is here shown to depend on the wire diameter and on the polarization of the incident light. The absorption line shape, the decreasing frequency with increasing wire diameter, and the polarization dependence of the reflectivity, all indicate that this resonance is due to an intersubband absorption resulting from quantum-confinement effects.

No abstract

This paper reports the fabrication of large diameter pores (> 150 nm) in anodic alumina that can be used to create wire arrays with significant surface effects, but without significant quantum confinement. These wires, therefore, allow us to distinguish between optical absorption spectra features originating from quantum effects and those from surface effects. The paper presents techniques towards fabricating these bismuth wire arrays, and presents optical absorption data from two bismuth nanowire arrays in the semimetal-semiconductor transition diameter regime. The results from previous publications are summarized and future directions are outlined.

This paper reports the fabrication of large diameter pores (> 150 nm) in anodic alumina that can be used to create wire arrays with significant surface effects, but without significant quantum confinement. These wires, therefore, allow us to distinguish between optical absorption spectra features originating from quantum effects and those from surface effects. The paper presents techniques towards fabricating these bismuth wire arrays, and presents optical absorption data from two bismuth nanowire arrays in the semimetal-semiconductor transition diameter regime. The results from previous publications are summarized and future directions are outlined.