Electrospun nanowire arrays for electronics and optoelectronics

Abstract

Electrospinning is a cheap and stable technique that allows the fabrication of continuous and uniform fibers, either organic or inorganic, with diameters ranging from tens of nanometers to several micrometers for mass production [5−7]. Moreover, highly ordered aligned nanowire array (NWA) can also be easily achieved on various substrates based on modified electrospinning, which is greatly beneficial to the following applications of NWs in various fields shown in Fig. 1. In this review, we provide a concise retrospection on the assembling methods and primarily highlight the electrospinning method and corresponding applications of NWA including electrodes, field effect transistors (FET), piezoelectric sensor, gas sensor, and photodetectors. We also give comments and prospection in the ABSTRACT Alignment of NWs (NWs) is the core issue for integrating NWs into nanodevices in future. This review made a concise retrospect on reported assembling methods and mainly emphasized on the electrospinning method and its developments, as well as the following applications of the aligned nanowire array (NWA) in electronics and optoelectronics. First, we classified reported assembling methods into three categories: "grow then place", "place then grow" and "grow and place" (electrospinning method). Then, we focused on the electrospinning method and its modified method including field assisted method, rotating collector assisted method and near-field assisted methods, as well as their merits and defects, respectively. Next, we illustrated the applications of the NWs arrays fabricated by electrospinning in field effect transistors (FET), gas sensors, piezoelectric sensors and photodetectors. Finally, we made a short conclusion and prospection on electrospinning method. As an easy and cheap nanowire fabrication and alignment method, electrospinning has a bright future in one-dimensional materials based electronics and optoelectronics.

Nanostructured Materials and Architectures for Advanced Infrared Photodetection

“…1D nanostructures such as nanowires and nanotubes exhibit an inherent anisotropic structure. They have attracted lots of research interests in optoelectronic devices, including lasers, photodetectors, etc . Due to the high surface to volume ratio, 1D nanostructures also accommodate similar photoconductive gain mechanisms in photodetectors as CQDs.…”

WS2 nanoplates embedded in graphitic carbon nanotubes with excellent electrochemical performance for lithium and sodium storage

“…The carbon shell not only improves the conductivity, but also prevents the WS 2 active materials from being eroded by direct contact with the electrolyte, resulting in a long cycle life [30][31][32]. The 1D structure is able to promote vectoral ion and electron transport, enabling the fast lithium storage [33]. Additionally, the nanosized WS 2 and the defect of the graphitic carbon coating with high surface area lead to a higher discharge capacity.…”

“…The resulting framework constructed by graphitic carbon coated nanocables possesses high surface area, skeleton framework and most efficient 1D electron transport pathways [31,32]. The unique graphitic carbon coatings of nanocable can not only facilitate the easy access of electrolyte and the fast transfer of electrons, but also can accommodate the volume changes of metal oxides and sulfides and prevent their aggregation during cycle processes [31,33]. It is also noted that the electron transport of 2D metal disulfides (WS 2 ) through the basal planes is much faster as compared to the one parallel to the planes [34].…”

Strategies for designing metal oxide nanostructures

“…1D metal oxide nanostructures are the most widely studied nanostructures, as evidenced by the numerous excellent reviews on the synthesis and functional applications of 1D metal oxide nanomaterials that have been appearing almost every year recently [2,[76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85][86][87][88][89]. In this review, we only intend to give some general information on the fabrication of 1D metal oxide nanostructures.…”

“…Their nanostructures have emerged as an important class of materials with a rich collection of properties and general potential for various applications, including electrodes, highmobility transistors, gas sensors, photovoltaics, photonic devices, and non-volatile memories [1][2][3][4]. In particular, metal oxide nanostructures have led to a revival of interest in them for wide applications in energy conversion, harvesting, and storage devices, such as lithium-ion batteries [5,6], fuel cells [7][8][9], solar cells [10,11], nanogenerators [12,13], hydrogen production by water photolysis and its storage [14][15][16][17], water and air purification [18,19].…”