Nanostructures formed of branched nanowhiskers and methods of producing the same

US7875536B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• QUNANO AB · SE

Inventors

• Lars Samuelson · Malmö, SE
• Knut Deppert · Lund, SE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 12, 2010
• Grant date: Jan 25, 2011
• Expiry date: Feb 12, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/25
• WIPO field: Semiconductors
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method of forming a nanostructure having the form of a tree, comprises a first stage and a second stage. The first stage includes providing one or more catalytic particles on a substrate surface, and growing a first nanowhisker via each catalytic particle. The second stage includes providing, on the periphery of each first nanowhisker, one or more second catalytic particles, and growing, from each second catalytic particle, a second nanowhisker extending transversely from the periphery of the respective first nanowhisker. Further stages may be included to grow one or more further nanowhiskers extending from the nanowhisker(s) of the preceding stage. Heterostructures may be created within the nanowhiskers. Such nanostructures may form the components of a solar cell array or a light emitting flat panel, where the nanowhiskers are formed of a photosensitive material. A neural network may be formed by positioning the first nanowhiskers close together so that adjacent trees contact one another through nanowhiskers grown in a subsequent stage, and heterojunctions within the nanowhiskers create tunnel barriers to current flow.