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TitleGrowth and applications of germanium nanowires
NameKlein, Lauren Ashley (author), Garfunkel, Eric (chair), Lee, KiBum (internal member), Castner Jr., Edward (internal member), Bartynski, Robert (outside member), Rutgers University, Graduate School - New Brunswick,
Degree Date2011-05
Date Created2011
SubjectChemistry and Chemical Biology,
Nanowires
DescriptionGermanium nanowires are grown utilizing a vapor-liquid-solid mechanism in a home-built, hot-wall chemical vapor deposition reactor. These wires are of particular scientific and technological interest due to their relatively low growth temperature, which allows them to be grown on a wide variety of substrates. The wires are fully characterized, utilizing electron microscope techniques, EDX, XPS, RBS, XRD, and electrical measurements. We demonstrate the first growth of germanium nanowires directly on a flexible polymer substrate. An investigation into the growth rate of nanowires reveals that their nucleation cannot be described by a simple diffusion-limited model; a more complicated surface-limited kinetics model must be applied to fully describe growth. We explore the passivation of nanowires, focusing on the deposition of thin-films of robust oxides utilizing atomic layer deposition. Initial electrical measurements are investigated to gain some understanding as to the electrical properties of our wires. We present a novel organic-inorganic heterojunction photovoltaic cell, developed from germanium nanowires and poly (3-hexylthiophene), and demonstrate an increase in external quantum efficiency of the device with the inclusion of the germanium nanowires.
NotePh.D.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
NoteIncludes vita
Noteby Lauren Ashley Klein
Genretheses
Persistent URLhttp://hdl.rutgers.edu/1782.1/rucore10001600001.ETD.000061301
Languageeng
CollectionGraduate School - New Brunswick Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.