Atomic-Scale Characterization of Planar Selective-Area-Grown InAs/ InGaAs Nanowires

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Jiangtao Qu
  • Daria Beznasyuk
  • Maja Cassidy
  • Rawa Tanta
  • Limei Yang
  • Natalie P. Holmes
  • Matthew J. Griffith
  • Jeppesen, Peter Krogstrup
  • Julie M. Cairney

Atomic-scale information about the structural and compositional properties of novel semiconductor nanowires is essential to tailoring their properties for specific applications, but characterization at this length scale remains a challenging task. Here, quasi-1D InAs/InGaAs semiconductor nanowire arrays were grown by selective area epitaxy (SAE) using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), and their subsequent properties were analyzed by a combination of atom probe tomography (APT) and aberration -corrected transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results revealed the chemical composition of the outermost thin InAs layer, a fine variation in the indium content at the InAs/InGaAs interface, and lightly incorporated element tracing. The results highlight the importance of correlative microscopy approaches in revealing complex nanoscale structures, with TEM being uniquely suited to interrogating the crystallography of InGaAs NWs, whereas APT is capable of three-dimensional (3D) elemental mapping, revealing the subtle compositional variation near the boundary region. This work demonstrates a detailed pathway for the nanoscale structural assessment of novel one-dimensional (1D) nanomaterials.

Original languageEnglish
JournalACS applied materials & interfaces
Volume14
Pages (from-to)47981-47990
Number of pages10
ISSN1944-8244
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Oct 2022

    Research areas

  • InGaAs nanowires, In segregation, epitaxy growth, atom probe tomography, transmission electron microscopy, III-V, SURFACE SEGREGATION, SOLAR-CELLS, SILICON

ID: 323975557