Giant enhancement of the carrier mobility in silicon nanowires with diamond coating

Nano Lett. 2006 Nov;6(11):2442-6. doi: 10.1021/nl061554o.

Abstract

We show theoretically that the low-field carrier mobility in silicon nanowires can be greatly enhanced by embedding the nanowires within a hard material such as diamond. The electron mobility in the cylindrical silicon nanowires with 4-nm diameter, which are coated with diamond, is 2 orders of magnitude higher at 10 K and a factor of 2 higher at room temperature than the mobility in a free-standing silicon nanowire. The importance of this result for the downscaled architectures and possible silicon-carbon nanoelectronic devices is augmented by an extra benefit of diamond, a superior heat conductor, for thermal management.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Diamond / chemistry*
  • Electromagnetic Fields
  • Electrons*
  • Materials Testing
  • Motion
  • Nanotechnology / methods
  • Nanowires / chemistry*
  • Particle Size
  • Silicon / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Diamond
  • Silicon