Nanowires with a diameter of three atoms. Free Technical Library News

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Nanowires three atoms in diameter

29.12.2016

A group of scientists from Stanford University and the Stanford Linear Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC) has discovered the possibility of using the smallest particles of diamonds - adamantanes (diamondoid) - conductive nanowires with a diameter of only three atoms. Moreover, each such wire is enclosed in a reliable shell of diamonds, which makes them strong enough and protected from short circuits with each other. Such nanowires can find applications in optoelectronics for data transmission, as a solution for generating energy from the sun or in other areas. For example, it is possible to produce fabric for clothes with sewn-in electronics or solar panels invisible to the eye.

The most important part of the development was such properties of the new material as self-assembly. According to scientists, nanowires are assembled like a LEGO constructor. The role of "cubes" with grooves and guides in the assembly of nanowires is played by the smallest particles of diamonds. By the way, the solution with diamond particles for experiments was obtained from oil produced in the state of Arkansas. The oil in this area has all the impurities necessary for growing "diamond" nanowires. But for the solution, it underwent a special cleaning, during which "cubes" of approximately the same size remained in the mixture.

In addition to adamantanes, each of which has one sulfur atom attached, a solution of copper sulfide was used to grow nanowires. In solution, the molecular lattice of adamantanes began to be affected by attractive forces in the form of van der Waals forces. Adamantanes began to stack one after another, involving copper atoms in the process, and the wires grew in one direction. Scientists have proven that this is a precisely controlled process, which allows us to talk about good prospects for development.

In addition to copper, experiments with the self-assembly of "three-atom" nanowires were carried out with cadmium, zinc, gold, and silver. Each of these or other materials gave the wires different and unique properties. The use of cadmium, for example, made it possible to give the wires the characteristics of LEDs. Other materials have promised to give nanowires the properties of piezocrystals, and this is the direct conversion of mechanical deformations into electricity (energy-producing fabric of a suit or sports uniform). Nanowires have many prospects. It would be nice to wait for commercial implementation.

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