General Synthesis of Compound Semiconductor Nanowires

A broad range of multicomponent semiconductor nanowires (see also cover) has been synthesized using laser-assisted catalytic growth (LCG). Nanowires of binary group III–V materials, ternary III–V materials, binary II–VI compounds, and binary SiGe alloys have been prepared in bulk quantities as high-purity (> 90 %) single crystals. The nanowires have diameters varying from three to tens of nanometers, and lengths extending to tens of micrometers. The synthesis of this wide range of technologically important semiconductor nanowires can be extended to many other materials and opens up significant opportunities in nanoscale science and technology.