Hydrothermal Synthesis of Highly Crystalline Tellurium Nanowires for Nanoelectronics

Semiconductor nanowires have gained extensive interest as nanoscale building blocks for nanoelectronic devices in the past few years. In particular, tellurium nanowires (TeNWs) are notable for their unique one-dimensional van der Waals structure, which imparts distinctive properties. However, a comprehensive synthesis strategy and the underlying mechanisms for the controlled production of TeNWs have not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we conducted systematic studies of ultrathin semiconducting TeNWs through experimental synthesis, morphology analysis, chip fabrication, electronic characterization, and theoretical modeling. TeNWs were synthesized using a green hydrothermal method, which established quality and crystalline morphology under various reaction conditions (pH value, polyvinylpyrrolidone amount, temperature, and reaction times) to enable nanonetwork integration onto chips. Characterization techniques confirmed the nanometer scale (8–11 nm), uniformity, and high crystallinity of nanowires. The TeNW networks created by spin-coating exhibited excellent electrical conductivity and long-term stability in ambient air. We fabricated 4 × 4 interdigitated electrode arrays and demonstrated good Ohmic contacts between the TeNW networks and gold electrodes. The fabricated back-gated transistor devices further demonstrated linear output behavior and typical p-type field-effect characteristics. Furthermore, density functional theory calculations provided electronic insight into the formation mechanism of semiconductor TeNWs and the strong interactions at the TeNW–Au interface. The as-grown TeNWs provide a robust platform for advancing the performance and scalability of next-generation nanoelectronics.