GaN nanowires have been grown by molecular beam epitaxy either catalyst-free or catalyst-induced by means of Ni seeds. Under identical growth conditions of temperature and Ⅴ/Ⅲ ratio, both types of GaN nanowires are of wurtzite structure elongated in the Ga-polar direction and are constricted by M-plane facets. However, the catalyst-induced nanowires contain many more basal-plane stacking faults and their photoluminescence is weaker. These differences can be explained as effects of the catalyst Ni seeds.
GaN nanowires (NWs) were grown on sapphire by molecular beam epitaxy. NWs form only in the presence of Ni seed particles and only under N-rich conditions. Their length increases linearly with growth time up to about 7.5μm while their diameter remains almost constant. In contrast, a switch to Ga-rich conditions after NW formation results in radial growth, i.e., the NW diameter increases while lengthening is negligible. These results corroborate the fact that the growth of III-V NWs is governed by the accumulation of group-III atoms in the seeds, while group-V species are not preferentially incorporated at the seeds.
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.