Assembly of Ordered Carbon Shells on Semiconducting Nanomaterials

Brookhaven National Laboratory

Technology Marketing Summary

Semiconducting nanowires rarely develop a protective coating in situ, leaving the surface vulnerable to defects and contaminants. By encapsulating them in the growth chamber with a stable compound, not only is the surface protected from environmental contaminants, but deleterious surface electronic states are minimized.

Description

The invention involves a method for encapsulating semiconductor nanowires with inert carbon shells without modifying the nanowires’ electrical and optical properties, and the resulting structures. Key to the formation of ordered graphite shells is the presence of nanoclusters of metal on the surface of the nanowires. These metal clusters induce local formation of graphitic carbon in well-defined layers. The local carbon nuclei then continue to grow, spreading to uniformly cover the entire nanowire. The process takes place at moderate temperatures, 400?500°C, in the presence of sufficient carbon.

Benefits

The passivating layer reduces surface states that adversely affect semiconductor performance.

Applications and Industries

This process can be applied to any semiconducting nanostructure deposited in vacuum. The resulting passivated nanostructures can be used in electronic, optical, and mechanical devices.

More Information

Sutter, E., et al., “Assembly of ordered carbon shells on GaN nanowires,” Appl. Phys. Lett., 90, 093118 (2007) DOI:10.1063/1.2710189

Patents and Patent Applications

ID Number	Title and Abstract	Primary Lab	Date
Patent 7,714,317	Assembly of ordered carbon shells on semiconducting nanomaterials In some embodiments of the invention, encapsulated semiconducting nanomaterials are described. In certain embodiments the nanostructures described are semiconducting nanomaterials encapsulated with ordered carbon shells. In some aspects a method for producing encapsulated semiconducting nanomaterials is disclosed. In some embodiments applications of encapsulated semiconducting nanomaterials are described.	Brookhaven National Laboratory	05/11/2010 Issued

Technology Status

Technology ID	Development Stage	Availability	Published	Last Updated
BSA 07-37	Prototype	Available	04/22/2011	04/22/2011

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To:	Kimberley Elcess631-344-4151<elcess@bnl.gov>
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