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Combined structural and electronic characterization of semiconductor nanowire devices on the atomic scale using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy

Objective

Free-standing III-V semiconductor nanowires, with diameters of about 20 to 80 nm at a length of several µm, offer tremendous possibilities for application in photovoltaics, optoelectronics, information technology as well as life-science. Semiconductor nanowire devices are not only smaller than conventional structures and significantly power-saving, but can even exhibit qualitatively novel behavior. Due to the small size and the very large surface to bulk ratio, the nanowire surface has a crucial influence on the performance of the entire device.
Up to now, the conductivity and other electric properties of single nanowire devices on one hand and the nanowire crystal and surface structure on the other hand could only be measured separately. Here, we will combine both approaches in a novel experimental setup, enabling us to achieve information on the atomic surface structure and local electronic properties of an individual nanowire as well as the global electric behavior of a device built by the same nanowire simultaneously. For this purpose, we will study single, individually contacted semiconductor nanowires using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM), obtaining data on e.g. the chemical composition and atomic reconstruction of the nanowire surface as well as the local density of states and local variations of the band alignment. During these STM measurements, external source, drain and gate voltages can be applied to the nanowire device, revealing the complex interaction of the nanowire surface, local charge distribution, and global device performance like conductivity and other transport properties.

Call for proposal

FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF
See other projects for this call

Coordinator

MAX IV Laboratory, Lund University
EU contribution
€ 179 169,40
Address
Paradisgatan 5c
22100 LUND
Sweden

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Region
Södra Sverige Sydsverige Skåne län
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Administrative Contact
Anders Mikkelsen (Dr.)
Links
Total cost
No data