Self‐Assembled Heterostructures: Selective Growth of Metallic Nanoparticles on V2–VI3 Nanoplates
Abstract
Precise control of the selective growth of heterostructures with specific composition and functionalities is an emerging and extremely challenging topic. Here, the first investigation of the difference in binding energy between a series of metal–semiconductor heterostructures based on layered V2–VI3 nanostructures is investigated by means of density functional theory. All lateral configurations show lower formation energy compared with that of the vertical ones, implying the selective growth of metal nanoparticles. The simulation results are supported by the successful fabrication of self‐assembled Ag/Cu‐nanoparticle‐decorated p‐type Sb2Te3 and n‐type Bi2Te3 nanoplates at their lateral sites through a solution reaction. The detailed nucleation–growth kinetics are well studied with controllable reaction times and precursor concentrations. Accompanied by the preserved topological structure integrity and electron transfer on the semiconductor host, exceptional properties such as dramatically increased electrical conductivity are observed thanks to the pre‐energy‐filtering effect before carrier injection. A zigzag thermoelectric generator is built using Cu/Ag‐decorated Sb2Te3 and Bi2Te3 as p–n legs to utilize the temperature gradient in the vertical direction. Synthetic approaches using similar chalcogenide nanoplates as building blocks, as well as careful control of the dopant metallic nanoparticles or semiconductors, are believed to be broadly applicable to other heterostructures with novel applications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Aug 11, 2017
- Source ID
- 10.1002/adma.201702968
Entities
People
- Chaochao Dun
- Corey A. Hewitt
- David L. Carroll
- Drew C. Schall
- Gabriel Marcus
- Junwei Xu
- Qi Li
- Qike Jiang
- Yang Guo
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics
- Donghua University
- International Business Machines Corporation (Armonk, NY)
- National Science Foundation
- Wake Forest University