0000000000021419
AUTHOR
John J. Boland
Probing the magnetic properties of cobalt–germanium nanocable arrays
We report the synthesis of high density arrays of coaxial nanocables, consisting of germanium nanowires surrounded by cobalt nanotube sheaths, within anodic aluminium oxide membranes. The nanocable arrays were prepared using a supercritical fluid inclusion process, whereby the cobalt nanotubes were first deposited on the pore walls of the nanoporous membranes and subsequently filled with germanium to form coaxial nanocables. The composition and structure of the metal–semiconductor nanostructures was investigated by electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray mapping and X-ray diffraction at high angles. The magnetic properties of the co-axial nanocables were probed using a superconducting …
Two-terminal nanoelectromechanical devices based on germanium nanowires.
A two-terminal bistable device, having both ON and OFF regimes, has been demonstrated with Ge nanowires using an in situ TEM-STM technique. The function of the device is based on delicately balancing electrostatic, elastic, and adhesion forces between the nanowires and the contacts, which can be controlled by the applied voltage. The operation and failure conditions of the bistable device were investigated, i.e. the influence of nanowire diameter, the surface oxide layer on the nanowires and the current density. During ON/OFF cycles the Ge nanowires were observed to be more stable than carbon nanotubes, working at similar conditions, due to the higher mechanical stability of the nanowires. …