Synthesize high-quality, single-crystalline semiconductor nanowires for a range of compositions using a solution-phase catalyzed growth process known as solution-liquid-solid (SLS) growth. Modify this technique to grow complex nanowire heterostructures in flow.

Use colloidal synthesis methods, in particular solution-phase catalyzed growth processes, to synthesize high-quality, single-crystalline semiconductor nanowires for a range of compositions, including II-VI, III-V, IV-VI, III₂VI₃ and I-III-VI₂ systems.

Capabilities include:

• SLS growth of quantum-confined semiconductor nanowire "building blocks": II-VI, III-V, IV-VI, III₂VI₃ and I-III-VI₂ systems.
• Tune diameters from ~5–50 nm and lengths from ~200 nm–10 µm.
• As-prepared nanowires are soluble in non-polar solvents, but can be transferred to aqueous environments using standard ligand-exchange techniques.
• Process solution-phase nanowires into the solid-state, creating nanowire thin films and composites for incorporation into various device structures.¹
• Employ single-source precursors to access complex ternary compositions (e.g., CuInSe₂),² and develop novel methods for growth, e.g., "flow" solution-liquid-solid (FSLS) microfuidics-based nanowire synthesis with dynamic control over composition.³
• Nanowire-based photovoltaics: device fabrication and basic testing  
• Controlled Flow-SLS nanowire growth for advanced nanowire heterostructuring and growth kinetics studies.

The dynamic nature of the synthesis (in contrast with conventional flask-based synthesis) affords greater control over growth, new opportunities to study growth mechanisms, and, significantly, the ability to fabricate complex axial heterostructures.

Contact: Jennifer Hollingsworth

Research Highlights:
Layer-by-Layer Fabrication of Nanowire Sensitized Solar Cells: Geometry-Independent Integration
Acharya, K. P; Ji, Z.; Holesinger, T. G.; Crisp, J. A.; Ivanov, S. A.; Sykora, M.; Hollingsworth, J. A. Advanced Functional Materials 2014, 24, 6843-6852. doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201401225

Solution-Liquid-Solid Growth of Ternary Cu-In-Se Semiconductor Nanowires from Multiple- and Single-Source Precursors
Wooten, A.; Werder, D.; Williams, D.; Casson, J.; Hollingsworth, J. A. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2009, 131, 16177-16188. doi/10.1021/ja905730n

Flow-based solution–liquid–solid nanowire synthesis
Laocharoensuk, R.; Palaniappan, K.; Smith, N. A.; Dickerson, R. M.; D. Werder, Baldwin, J. K.; Hollingsworth, J. A. Nature Nanotechnology 2013, 8 660-666. doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2013.149