AMaSiS 2021 - Abstract

Hadjimichael, Yiannis

Toward charge transport in bent nanowires

Coauthors: Patricio Farrell, Christian Merdon, Timo Streckenbach
Weierstrass Institute, Germany

Nanowires are of great interest for their potential applications in optoelectronics, solar cells, and sensors, to name a few. In this talk, we study the elastic and electric properties of bent nanowires. We consider nanowires consisting of asymmetrically lattice-mismatched materials, which by construction induces strain across the heterostructure's interface. This inherent strain is sufficient to bend the nanowires up to 180 degrees, as shown in experiments. This mechanical property opens new possibilities in the design and use of bent nano heterostructures. We propose a non-linear model that captures the finite-strain elastic deformation in the material frame of reference. The continuous mechanics model is combined with the polarization potential equation to study the piezoelectric behavior of the mechanical deformations. Using the finite element method, we calculate the strain field and polarization potential. With these calculations, we can derive the band energy profiles on a cross-section of the nanowire. Finally, we aim to study the charge carrier transport in bent nanowires based on a drift-diffusion van Roosbroeck type of model.