This book thoroughly reviews all aspects of quasi-one-dimensional nanostructures, such as nanowires (NWs), from their synthesis methods to their properties and applications. The first chapter explains the importance of studying NWs, the physical concepts related to their formation, and some historical results on their synthesis. Chapter 2 describes the synthesis methods in a more systematic way, grouping them into vapor-phase growth-based methods, templated methods, and solution-based methods. Chapter 3 describes the physical properties of NWs and how to predict and control them. Their morphological or chemical characteristics are illustrated, and more complex structures, such as branched or kinked structures, are explained. Chapter 4 covers the possibility of assembling the grown NWs onto substrates by using microfluidic channels, Langmuir–Blodgett processes, or the blown bubble method, exploiting chemical interactions.
The following seven chapters discuss applications. Chapter 5 extensively describes nanoelectronic devices based on NWs, such as field-effect transistors and diodes, logic gates, nonvolatile memories and nanoprocessors, and their electrical properties when fabricated using NWs. Chapter 6 describes NW-based photonic devices, such as lasers, light-emitting diodes, and photodetectors, starting with the description of the optical phenomena in homogeneous or heterostructured NWs. Chapter 7 discusses single or multiple quantum dots confined inside NWs through modulated doping or selecting metallic contacts, analyzing their effects such as the Coulomb blockade in experimental and simulated characteristics.
For renewable energy, it is important to have efficient and reliable energy-storage systems. Chapter 8 describes how NWs also provide building blocks for batteries, thanks to their ability to sustain the strain associated with the large volume expansion/discharge cycles and to remain connected to the current collectors during cycling instead of breaking, as occurs with standard materials. Chapter 9 addresses light harvesting effects observed in NWs for application in photovoltaics as well as the possibility to decouple light absorption from the optical path in the radial junction configuration. The two chapters discuss NW sensors and their applications when interfaced to biological systems.
In Chapter 1, it explains that by using vapor liquid solid growth under equilibrium conditions, it is not possible to grow NWs with sizes smaller than 0.2 μm. However, an article published in 1997 (J. Westwater et al., J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 15 (3), 554 [1997]) and following ones demonstrate that the nucleation of NWs with diameters in the tens of nm in size and smaller can be obtained, their formation depending—in addition to the other parameters—on the partial pressure of the precursor gas. The reported explanation is that at low pressures, the chemical potential of the wire is higher than that of the vapor phase due to the high surface-to-volume ratio, and this prevents the wire nucleation in small eutectic droplets. When the pressure increases, the steam chemical potential increases as well, and the growth of small NWs becomes possible. This represents one weakness of the book, and the publisher could decide to publish a second edition with these data for more thorough coverage.
Despite this detail, the book is well worth reading. It is clear, well-organized, and informative. It is well focused on NWs and provides an overview of the extensive literature on this topic. The figures are useful and well-selected. The book requires background knowledge on materials science and nanofabrication, so it does not seem aimed at undergraduate students. It is helpful for researchers new to the field of NWs because it provides a useful list of many of the papers available on the subject. It is also useful to experts in the field because it stimulates ideas for new experiments.
Reviewer: Rosaria A. Puglisi, Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems of the National Research Council in Catania, Italy.
