No Arabic abstract
CdSe-Au networks were synthesized by a colloidal chemistry technique. They entail CdSe nanorods with a diameter of ~10 nm and a length of ~40 nm, which are joined together by Au domains (~5 nm). Individual networks were positioned by AC dielectrophoresis between bow-tie electrodes with a gap of ~100 nm and their conductivity as well as the photoelectrical properties were investigated. Nanorod networks, with multiple Au domains on the nanorod surface, displayed stable conductivity that was not sensitive to blue laser light illumination. Such nanostructures were transformed by thermal annealing to networks with Au domains only at the nanorod tips. In this system the overall conductivity was reduced, but a clear photocurrent signal could be detected, manifesting semiconductor behavior.
We report the effects of variation in length on the electronic structure of CdSe nanorods derived from atomic clusters and passivated by fictitious hydrogen atoms. These nanorods are augmented by attaching gold clusters at both the ends to form a nanodumbbell. The goal is to assess the changes at nanolevel after formation of contacts with gold clusters serving as electrodes and compare the results with experimental observations [PRL, 95, 056805 (2005)]. Calculations involving nanorods of length 4.6 Angstrom to 116.6 Angstrom are performed using density functional theory implemented within plane-wave basis set. The binding energy per atom saturates for nanorod of length 116.6 Angstrom. It is interesting to note that upon attaching gold clusters, the nanorods shorter than 27 Angstrom develop metallicity by means of metal induced gap states (MIGS). Longer nanorods exhibit a nanoscale Schottky barrier emerging at the center. For these nanorods, interfacial region closest to the gold electrodes shows a finite density of states in the gap due to MIGS, which gradually decreases towards the center of the nanorod opening up a finite gap. Bader charge analysis indicates localized charge transfer from metal to semiconductor.
We investigate the photoconductance of single-walled carbon nanotube-nanocrystalhybrids. The nanocrystals are bound to the nanotubes via molecular recognition. We find that the photoconductance of the hybrids can be adjusted by the absorption characteristics of the nanocrystals. In addition, the photoconductance of the hybrids surprisingly exhibits a slow time constant of about 1 ms after excitation of the nanocrystals. The data are consistent with a bolometrically induced current increase in the nanotubes caused by photon absorption in the nanocrystals.
The pressing quest for overcoming Boltzmann tyranny in low-power nanoscale electronics revived the thoughts of engineers of early 1930-s on the possibility of negative circuit constants. The concept of the ferroelectric-based negative capacitance (NC) devices triggered explosive activity in the field. However, most of the research addressed transient NC, leaving the basic question of the existence of the steady-state NC unresolved. Here we demonstrate that the ferroelectric nanodot capacitor hosts a stable two-domain state realizing the static reversible NC device thus opening routes for the extensive use of the NC in domain wall-based nanoelectronics.
Although poorly understood, cation-exchange reactions are increasingly used to dope or transform colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots). We used density-functional theory and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations to develop a microscopic theory that explains structural, optical, and electronic changes observed experimentally in Ag-cation-exchanged CdSe nanocrystals. We find that Coulomb interactions, both between ionized impurities and with the polarized nanocrystal surface, play a key role in cation exchange. Our theory also resolves several experimental puzzles related to photoluminescence and electrical behavior in CdSe nanocrystals doped with Ag.
Despite the recent progress on two-dimensional multilayer materials (2DMM) with weak interlayer interactions, the investigation on 2DMM with strong interlayer interactions is far from its sufficiency. Here we report on first-principles calculations that clarify the structural evolution and optoelectronic properties of such a 2DMM, multilayer silicene. With our newly developed global optimization algorithm, we discover the existence of rich dynamically stable multilayer silicene phases, the stability of which is closely related to the extent of sp3 hybridization that can be evaluated by the average bonds and effective bond angles. The stable Si(111) surface structures are obtained when the silicene thickness gets up to four, showing the critical thickness for the structural evolution. We also find that the multilayer silicene with pi-bonded surfaces present outstanding optoelectronic properties for the solar cells and optical fiber communications due to the incorporation of sp2-type bonds in the sp3-type bonds dominated system. This study is helpful to complete the picture of structure and related property evolution of 2DMM with strong interlayer interactions.