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A catalyst-free synthesis of germanium nanowires obtained by combined X-ray chemical vapour deposition of GeH4 and low-temperature thermal treatment techniques

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Abstract

A catalyst-free innovative synthesis, by combined X-ray chemical vapour deposition and low-temperature thermal treatments, which has not been applied since so far to the growth of germanium nanowires (Ge-NWs), produced high yields of the nanoproducts with the GeH4 reactant gas. Nanowires were grown on both surfaces of a conventional deposition quartz substrate. They were featured with high purity and very large aspect ratios (ranging from 100 to 500). Products were characterized by scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive atomic X-ray fluorescence and transmission electron microscopies, X-ray powder diffraction diffractometry, thermogravimetric analysis with differential scanning calorimetry, vibrational infrared and Raman and ultraviolet–visible–near infrared spectroscopies. A quantitative nanowire bundles formation was observed in the lower surface of the quartz substrate positioned over a heating support, whilst spots of nanoflowers constituted by Ge-NWs emerged from a bulk amorphous germanium film matter, deposited on the upper surface of the substrate. The nanoproducts were characterized by crystalline core morphology, providing semiconductive features and optical band gap of about 0.67 eV. The possible interpretative base-growth mechanisms of the nanowires, stimulated by the concomitant application of radiant and thermal conditions with no specific added metal catalyst, are hereafter investigated and presented.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by public Progetti di Rilevante Interesse Nazionale (PRIN) of the Italian Ministero dell’Istruzione, Università e Ricerca (MIUR). AA and EB acknowledge funding from Fondazione CRT (Turin, I, Project 2013-2430). Dr Luca Belforte and Dr Mauro Sgroi (Centro Ricerche Fiat, Turin, I) were acknowledged for the acquisition of SEM micrographic analysis and electrical conductive measurements. Dr Simone Cantamessa, Dr Giorgio Gatti (University of Eastern Piedmont, I) and Ing. Dario Pezzini (Polytechnic of Turin, I) were acknowledged for the acquisition of TEM, SEM-EDAX and EDAX measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Chimica and NIS Centre of Excellence, Università degli Studi di Torino, via Pietro Giuria 7, 10125, Torino, Italy

    CHIARA DEMARIA, PAOLA BENZI, PAOLA ANTONIOTTI, ROBERTO RABEZZANA & LORENZA OPERTI

  2. Dipartimento di Scienze e Innovazione Tecnologica and Centro NanoSi.S.Te.M.I., Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale, viale Teresa Michel 11, 15121, Alessandria, Italy

    ALDO ARRAIS & ENRICO BOCCALERI

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  1. CHIARA DEMARIA
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  2. ALDO ARRAIS
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Correspondence to ALDO ARRAIS.

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DEMARIA, C., ARRAIS, A., BENZI, P. et al. A catalyst-free synthesis of germanium nanowires obtained by combined X-ray chemical vapour deposition of GeH4 and low-temperature thermal treatment techniques. Bull Mater Sci 39, 499–507 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12034-015-1143-1

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