Radius selection and droplet unpinning in vapor-liquid-solid-grown nanowires

S. M. Roper, A. M. Anderson, S. H. Davis, P. W. Voorhees

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

The requirements for steady nanowire growth under near-equilibrium conditions in the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) method is examined with particular emphasis on the configuration of the liquid droplet. It is found that the final radius of a cylindrical wire is selected by the fixed volume of liquid V L and the surface-energy ratio γsllv but is independent of the solid-vapor energy γsv. Existing models for growth, based on a balance of configurational forces at the triple junction, are shown to be consistent with the principle of maximal release of free energy. Gibbs's results on allowable contact angles at a sharp corner predict conditions on γsllv and γsvlv for the existence of straight-wire growth. For parameter values that violate these conditions the droplet atop the wire is expected to unpin. A range of alternative configurations for the liquid exist and their relative energies are compared. In particular, it is found that for a certain region in parameter space-not extraordinary in VLS growth-a spherical cap of liquid is not in equilibrium and an annulus of liquid surrounding the wire is energetically preferred. This is suggestive of a possible instability during growth.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number114320
JournalJournal of Applied Physics
Volume107
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2010

Funding

The authors would like to acknowledge helpful discussions with E. J. Schwalbach and K.-A. Wu. Support from NSF grant under Grant No. CMMI-0507053 is gratefully acknowledged.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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