Nanowire transformation and annealing by Joule heating.
Joule heating of bundles of Mo(6)S(3)I(6) nanowires, in real time, was studied using in situ TEM probing. TEM imaging, electron diffraction, and conductivity measurements showed a complete transformation of Mo(6)S(3)I(6) into Mo via thermal decomposition. The resulting Mo nanowires had a conductivity that was 2-3 orders higher than the starting material. The conductivity increased even further, up to 1.8 x 10(6) S m( - 1), when the Mo nanowires went through annealing phases. These results suggest that Joule heating might be a general way to transform or anneal nanowires, pointing to applications such as metal nanowire fabrication, novel memory elements based on material transformation, or in situ improvement of field emitters.
Hummelgård
Magnus
M
Department of Natural Sciences, Engineering and Mathematics, Mid Sweden University, SE-851 70 Sundsvall, Sweden. magnus.hummelgard@miun.se
Zhang
Renyun
R
Carlberg
Torbjörn
T
Vengust
Damjan
D
Dvorsek
Damjan
D
Mihailovic
Dragan
D
Olin
Håkan
H
D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D006361:Heating / Q000379:methods; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties
D046911:Macromolecular Substances