Nanosprings harvest light more efficiently

Abstract

Nanotechnology presents versatile architectural designs for the purpose of utilization as a building block of 1D optoelectronic nanodevices because current nanowire-based schemes require more effective solutions for low absorption capacity of nanoscale volumes. We report on the potential of nanospring absorbers as an alternative light-harvesting platform with significant advantages over conventional nanowires. Absorption capacity of nanospring geometry is found to be superior to cylindrical nanowire shape. Unlike nanowires, they are able to trap a larger amount of light thanks to characteristic periodic behavior that boosts light collection for the points matched with Mie resonances. Moreover, nanospring shape supplies compactness to a resulting device with area preservation as high as twofold. By considering that a nanospring array with optimal periods yields higher absorption than individual arrangements and core-shell designs, which further promote light collection due to unique antireflection features of shell layer, these nanostructures will pave the way for the development of highly efficient self-powered nanosystems.

Optically Active Semiconductor Nanosprings for Tunable Chiral Nanophotonics

“…They have already proven themselves useful as components for microelectromechanical and nanoelectromechanical systems, nanoscale sensors, and hydrogen-storage devices . In particular, semiconductor nanosprings can serve as a basis of an efficient photosensor platform due to their higher optical absorption as compared to ordinary nanowires . Because semiconductor nanosprings combine both helical shape and chiral crystal lattice, one may also expect that the dissymmetry of their interaction with different polarizations of circularly polarized light can be especially strong.…”

Wideband Absorption Enhancement in Laterally Oriented Core-Shell c-Si/a-Si Hexagonal Nanowire Arrays

“…One way to improve the absorption profile inside NWs is designing unusual crosssectional geometries. In recent years, so many efforts have been made to achieve broadband absorption enhancement in NWSCs by this method including, crescent-deformed [28], Nanos-spring [29] irregular [30], gear-shaped [31], and funnel-shaped NWs [32]. These nanostructures can achieve unique modes that are not supported in uniform and regular NWs.…”

Effects of Defects on the Mechanical Properties of Kinked Silicon Nanowires

“…Kinked silicon nanowires (KSiNWs) can trap more photons [ 1 ], enhance thermal isolation [ 2 – 4 ], strengthen the strain effect [ 5 , 6 ], and be feasible for biosensor detection [ 7 – 9 ], widely broadening its application areas [ 10 – 12 ]. However, such applications of KSiNWs are notably affected by their mechanical properties [ 13 ].…”