Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-mp689 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-16T04:29:54.268Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Synthesis of Icosahedral Boron Arsenide Nanowires for Betavoltaic Applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2012

Clint D. Frye
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506,
J.H. Edgar
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506,
Yi Zhang
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506,
Kevin Cooper
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506,
Luke O. Nyakiti
Affiliation:
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington DC, 20375
D.K. Gaskill
Affiliation:
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington DC, 20375
Get access

Abstract

With a wide band gap of greater than 3.0 eV and the ability to self-heal from radiation damage, icosahedral boron arsenide (B12As2) is an apt candidate for use in next-generation betavoltaics. By capturing and converting high energy electrons from radioisotopes into usable electricity, “nuclear batteries” made from B12As2 could potentially power devices for decades. Compared to bulk crystals or epitaxial films, B12As2 nanowires may have lower defect densities or may even be defect-free, leading to better electrical properties and device performance. In our study, B12As2 nanowires were synthesized via vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth using platinum powder and nickel powder on silicon carbide and 20 nm thick nickel film on silicon substrates from 700 °C to 1200 °C. Platinum yielded the highest quality nanowires from 900 °C to 950 °C, resulting in platinum particles densely covered with wires formed by straight segments connected by sharp angular kinks. At these growth temperatures, diameters ranged from less than 30 nm to about 300 nm as determined by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Growth temperatures of 850 °C or less produced curled wires 200-1000 nm in diameter. Transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction revealed excellent crystallinity in wires grown above 850 °C, while wires grown at or below 850 °C were partially amorphous. Wires grown from the 20 nm nickel film displayed similar morphologies at temperatures up to 850 °C; from 900 °C to 950 °C, straight, isolated wires were grown with diameters of 200-400 nm. Nickel powder only produced wires larger than 1 μm in diameter. The comparative quality and growth of B12As2nanowires will be discussed.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Bakalova, S., Gong, Y., Cobet, C., Esser, N., Zhang, Y., Edgar, J.H., Dudley, M. and Kuball, M., Phys. Rev B. 81, 075114 1-10 (2010).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Emin, D., Physics Today. 5562 (1987).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carrard, M., Emin, D., and Zuppiroli, L., Phys. Rev B 51, 270274 (1995).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Emin, D., Jour. of Sol. Stat. Chem., 179, 27912798 (2006).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Otten, C.J., Lourie, O.R., Yu, M.F., Cowley, J.M., Dyer, M.J., Ruoff, R.S. and Buhro, W.E., Jour. of the Amer. Chem. Soc., 124, 45644565 (2002).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guo, L. and Singh, R., Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 1017 (2007).Google Scholar
Meng, X., Chem. Phys. Let. 370, 825–287 (2003).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wang, Y.Q. and Duan, X.F., Appl.Phys. Let. 82, 272274 (2003).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cao, L.M., Hahn, K., Scheu, C., Rühle, M., Wang, Y.Q., Zhang, Z., Gao, C.X., Li, Y.C., Zhang, X. Y., He, M., Sun, L.L. and Wang, W.K., Appl. Phys. Let. 80, 42264228 (2002).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhang, H.Z., Wang, R.M., You, L.P., Yu, J., Chen, H., Yu, D.P. and Chen, Y., New Jour. of Phys. 9, 13 (2007).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wei, J., Jiang, B., Li, Y., Xu, C., Wu, D. and Wei, B., Jour. of Mater. Chem. 12, 31213124 (2002).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dai, H., Wong, E.W., Lu, Y.Z., Fan, S. and Lieber, C.M., Nature 375, 769772 (1995).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gole, J.L., Stout, J.D., Rauch, W.L. and Wang, Z.L., Appl. Phys. Let. 76, 23462348 (2000).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hansen, M., Constitution of Binary Alloys, 2nd Ed., McGraw-Hill, New York (1958).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hähnel, A. and Woltersdorf, J., Mater. Chem. and Phys. 83, 380388 (2004).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Predel, B., B-Pt (Boron-Platinum). Madelung, O. (ed.). “SpringerMaterials - The Landolt-Börnstein Database” (http://www.springermaterials.com)Google Scholar
Nam, C., Tham, D. and Fischer, J.E., Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 1058 (2008).Google Scholar
Nagarajan, R., Xu, Z., Edgar, J.H., Baig, F., Chaudhuri, J., Rek, Z., Payzant, E.A., Meyer, H.M., Pomeroy, J. and Kuball, M., Jour. of Cryst. Growth 273, 431438 (2005).CrossRefGoogle Scholar