title: Twin plane re-entrant mechanism for catalytic nanowire growth.
abstract: A twin-plane based nanowire growth mechanism is established using Au catalyzed Ge nanowire growth as a model system. Video-rate lattice-resolved environmental transmission electron microscopy shows a convex, V-shaped liquid catalyst-nanowire growth interface for a ⟨112⟩ growth direction that is composed of two Ge {111} planes that meet at a twin boundary. Unlike bulk crystals, the nanowire geometry allows steady-state growth with a single twin boundary at the nanowire center. We suggest that the nucleation barrier at the twin-plane re-entrant groove is effectively reduced by the line energy, and hence the twin acts as a preferential nucleation site that dictates the lateral step flow cycle which constitutes nanowire growth.
authors: Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge , Cambridge CB3 0FA, United Kingdom.
authors: Andrew D
authors: AD
authors: Gamalski
authors: Peter W
authors: PW
authors: Voorhees
authors: Caterina
authors: C
authors: Ducati
authors: Renu
authors: R
authors: Sharma
authors: Stephan
authors: S
authors: Hofmann