Thermodynamic patterns during in-situ heating of InAs nanowires encapsulated in Al2O3shells

Nanotechnology. 2021 Oct 22;33(2). doi: 10.1088/1361-6528/ac2d4b.

Abstract

Understanding the dynamic thermal behavior of nanomaterials based on their unique physical and chemical properties is critical for their applications. In this study, the thermal behavior of single-crystalline InAs nanowires in an amorphous Al2O3shell was investigated by conductingin situheating experiments in a transmission electron microscope. Two different thermodynamic patterns were observed during thein situheating experiments: (1) continuous vaporization and condensation simultaneously at temperatures lower than 838.15 K, and (2) pure evaporation at temperatures higher than 878.15 K. During the simultaneous condensation and vaporization in closer areas in a single InAs nanowire, the front edge of the vaporization was flat, while that of the condensation actively changed with time and temperature. Pure vaporization was conducted via layer-by-layer evaporation followed by three-dimensional vaporization at the final stage. The thermal behaviors of the InAs nanowires were demonstrated from a thermodynamic point of view.

Keywords: InAs nanowires; amorphous Al2O3 shells; core–shell structures; thermodynamic patterns.