Characterization Of Rare-Earth Monopnictide Nanoparticles Grown By Inert Gas Condensation
| Author(s) | Bichoupan, Kevin | |
| Date Accessioned | 2016-09-19T14:55:39Z | |
| Date Available | 2016-09-19T14:55:39Z | |
| Publication Date | 2016-05 | |
| Abstract | The incorporation of rare earth monopnictide (RE-V) nanoparticles in III-V semiconductor matrices has created a new class of materials called semiconductor nanocomposites. These materials exhibit enhanced properties for thermoelectric and terahertz radiation applications compared to conventional materials. A new method by which these materials are grown has been proposed using the combined use of inert gas condensation (IGC) and liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) in which nanoparticles are produced by IGC and then grown into a semiconductor film with LPE. This new method allows for scalability, fast growth rates, flexibility, and the ability to grow and characterize the nanoparticles and films separately. However, the development of this growth method is dependent on a fundamental understanding of both IGC and LPE growth methods individually. Furthermore, the characterization of the nanoparticles grown by IGC is necessary before they are inserted into the III-V semiconductor matrix by LPE. In this work, the investigation of various IGC growth parameters in RE-V nanoparticle growths is investigated including laser fluence, inert gas pressure, collection distance, and source composition. Furthermore, size characterization is performed to understand the average size and size distribution of nanoparticles grown by IGC. Size control of the nanoparticles is investigated. Lastly, preliminary work is performed to develop a Scherrer correlation. It was found that ErAs nanoparticle growths are benefitted from a laser fluence higher than 0.9 J/cm2, He pressure higher than 30 torr, small collection distances (~1.25 cm), and a source pellet composition of 4:1 Er:As (at %). No significant size change occurred with varying growth parameters. The average ErAs nanoparticle size was 5 nm +/- 2 nm. The shape factor (K) for the Scherrer correlation was determined to be 0.124 but more work is required to determine the validity of this value across a range of nanoparticle sizes. | en_US |
| Advisor | Joshua Zide | |
| Program | Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering | |
| URL | http://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/19582 | |
| Publisher | University of Delaware | en_US |
| Keywords | inert gas condensation | en_US |
| Keywords | nanoparticles | en_US |
| Keywords | chemical engineering | en_US |
| Title | Characterization Of Rare-Earth Monopnictide Nanoparticles Grown By Inert Gas Condensation | en_US |
| Type | Thesis | en_US |