title: Size-dependent nucleation kinetics at nonplanar nanowire growth interfaces.
abstract: In nanowire growth, kinetic processes at the growth interface can play an important role in governing wire compositions, morphologies, and growth rates. Molecular-dynamics simulations have been undertaken to probe such processes in a system featuring a solid-liquid interface shape characterized by a facet bounded by rough orientations. Simulated growth rates display a dependence on nanowire diameter consistent with a size-dependent barrier for facet nucleation. A theory for the interface mobility is developed, establishing a source for size-dependent growth rates that is an intrinsic feature of systems possessing growth interfaces with faceted and rough orientations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haxhimali
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asta
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Voorhees
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hoyt
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D007700:Kinetics; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D044367:Phase Transition; D013499:Surface Properties