title: Synthesis and properties of semiconducting iron pyrite (FeS2) nanowires.
abstract: We report the growth and structural, electrical, and optical characterization of vertically oriented single-crystalline iron pyrite (FeS(2)) nanowires synthesized via thermal sulfidation of steel foil for the first time. The pyrite nanowires have diameters of 4-10 nm and lengths greater than 2 μm. Their crystal phase was identified as cubic iron pyrite using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction. Electrical transport measurements showed the pyrite nanowires to be highly p-doped, with an average resistivity of 0.18 ± 0.09 Ω cm and carrier concentrations on the order of 10(21) cm(-3). These pyrite nanowires could provide a platform to further study and improve the physical properties of pyrite nanostructures toward solar energy conversion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cabán-Acevedo
authors.forename: Matthew S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Faber
authors.forename: Yizheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hamers
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jin