Whole-journey nanomaterial research in an electron microscope: from material synthesis, composition characterization, property measurements to device construction and tests.
The whole-journey nanomaterial research from material synthesis, composition and structure characterizations, property measurements to device construction and tests in one equipment chamber provides a quick and unambiguous way of establishing the relationships between synthesis conditions, composition and structures, physical properties and nanodevice performances of nanomaterials; however, it still proves challenging. Herein, we report the whole-journey research of tungsten oxide nanowires in an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) equipped with an x-ray energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and a multifunctional nanoprobe system. Tungsten oxide nanowires are synthesized by irradiating a tungsten filament using a high-energy laser in O2atmosphere with the dynamic growth processes of nanowires being directly visualized under ESEM observation. The as-synthesized nanowires are then characterized to be monoclinic W18O49nanowires by combing in situ EDS and ex situ transmission electron microscopy. Important physical parameters, i.e. Young's modulus, breaking strength, and electrical conductivity, of W18O49nanowires are determined based on in situ property measurements. Two-terminal electronic devices employing single W18O49nanowires as the channel are in situ constructed and their performances as near-infrared photodetectors and water vapor sensors are studied. The whole-journey research establishes the relationships between synthesis conditions, composition and structures, physical properties and nanodevice performances of tungsten oxide nanowires, and can be applied to other nanomaterials.
Key Laboratory for the Physics and Chemistry of Nanodevices and Department of Electronics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China.
Zhiqiang
Z
Tang
Xing
X
Li
Gongtao
G
Wu
Song
S
Gao
Qing
Q
Chen
Lianmao
L
Peng
Xianlong
X
Wei