title: Formation mechanisms for the dominant kinks with different angles in InP nanowires.
abstract: The morphologies and microstructures of kinked InP nanowires (NWs) prepared by solid-source chemical vapor deposition method were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Statistical analysis and structural characterization reveal that four different kinds of kinks are dominant in the grown InP NWs with a bending angle of approximately 70°, 90°, 110°, and 170°, respectively. The formation mechanisms of these kinks are discussed. Specifically, the existence of kinks with bending angles of approximately 70° and 110° are mainly attributed to the occurrence of stacking faults and nanotwins in the NWs, which could easily form by the glide of {111} planes, while approximately 90° kinks result from the local amorphorization of InP NWs. Also, approximately 170° kinks are mainly caused by small-angle boundaries, where the insertion of extra atomic planes could make the NWs slightly bent. In addition, multiple kinks with various angles are also observed. Importantly, all these results are beneficial to understand the formation mechanisms of kinks in compound semiconductor NWs, which could guide the design of nanostructured materials, morphologies, microstructures, and/or enhanced mechanical properties.
authors.affiliation: The Cultivation Base for State Key Laboratory, Qingdao University, No. 308, Ningxia Road, Qingdao 266071, People's Republic of China ; College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University, No. 308, Ningxia Road, Qingdao 266071, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Minghuan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The Cultivation Base for State Key Laboratory, Qingdao University, No. 308, Ningxia Road, Qingdao 266071, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fengyun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The Cultivation Base for State Key Laboratory, Qingdao University, No. 308, Ningxia Road, Qingdao 266071, People's Republic of China ; College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University, No. 308, Ningxia Road, Qingdao 266071, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The Cultivation Base for State Key Laboratory, Qingdao University, No. 308, Ningxia Road, Qingdao 266071, People's Republic of China ; College of Physics Science, Qingdao University, No. 308, Ningxia Road, Qingdao 266071, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yiqian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Materials Science, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: SenPo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Materials Science, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Johnny C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ho
keywords: 81.05.Ea; 81.07.-b; 81.07.Gf; Formation mechanism; HRTEM; InP nanowires; Kinks; Microstructures