• Biomolecular Systems
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• Nanosystems

Nanosystems

Semiconducting nanowires hold promise in nanoelectronic devices and nanoelectromechanical systems. Vapour-liquid/solid-solid growth is a commonly employed synthesis route in which a low melting point nanoparticle catalyses vapour phase reduction of the precursor and also serves as a conduit for essentially onedimensional mass transfer to the growing nanowire. The nucleation and growth of nanowires remains poorly understood.

Karma's group from Physics is collaborating with Upmanyu's group from Mechanical and Industrial Engineering to combine atomistic and continuum scale simulation methods to explore the fundamental mechanisms that control the shape, size, and growth rate of nanowires as a function of material parameters such as solid-vapour, solid-liquid, and liquid-vapour interfacial energy and mobility. Current investigations focus on the silicon-gold system. This research promises not only a major advance in our understanding of nanowire growth but also significant technological payoffs, including a design on new technological materials with extraordinary properties and new functionalities.