Nanowire

SnSe@SWCNT

HgTe@SWCNT

Epitaxial Nanowire Heterostructures SEM image

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Nanowire growth

Wire15micron

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Si NanoWire Failure

Nanowire

File:Nanowire.jpg

A nanowire

A nanowire is a nanostructure, with the diameter of the order of a nanometer (10^-9 meters). It can also be defined as a structure that has a thickness or diameter constrained to tens of nanometers or less and an unconstrained length. Nanowires are also referred to as quantum wires due to their quantum mechanical properties.

Properties

Nanowires exhibit unique electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties due to their high aspect ratio and quantum confinement effects. These properties make them suitable for a variety of applications in electronics, photonics, and nanotechnology.

Electrical Properties

Nanowires can exhibit either metallic or semiconducting properties depending on their composition and structure. For example, silicon nanowires can be used as transistors in nanoelectronics.

Thermal Properties

Due to their small size, nanowires have a high surface-to-volume ratio, which can lead to unique thermal properties. They can be used in thermoelectric devices to convert heat into electricity.

Mechanical Properties

Nanowires are known for their high strength and flexibility. This makes them useful in applications such as nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS).

Synthesis

There are several methods for synthesizing nanowires, including:

• Vapor-liquid-solid method
• Template synthesis
• Electrochemical deposition
• Molecular beam epitaxy

Applications

Nanowires have a wide range of applications due to their unique properties. Some of the key applications include:

• Nanoelectronics: Used in transistors, sensors, and other electronic components.
• Photonics: Used in light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and lasers.
• Energy storage: Used in batteries and supercapacitors.
• Biomedicine: Used in drug delivery and biosensors.

Related Pages

• Nanotechnology
• Quantum dot
• Carbon nanotube
• Nanoelectronics
• Thermoelectric materials

See Also

• Nanomaterials
• Nanostructure
• Nanoparticle
• Nanorod