Understanding the mechanical properties and deformation characteristics of nanoscale metallic nanopillars and wires is a significant concern for designing reliable small devices that must resist loads in service. This thesis aims to extend understanding of the size dependent behaviour of nanopillars and wires in compression and tension by investigating their mechanical properties and deformation characteristics. Single crystal bcc pillars were fabricated by focussed ion beam (FIB) machining from Fe, Nb, V, Ta, Mo, W and Cr, as well as the ferrite (bcc) and austenite (fcc) components of a duplex stainless steel (DSS). These were tested in compression over a range of test temperatures from 193 K to 393 K using various types of nanomechanical devices. The effect of sample size (pillar diameter) on the strength was investigated and found to increase with decreasing pillar size. In bcc metals, the yield or flow stress, 􀀂􀀖, is inversely proportional with some power of the pillar diameter, d. In bcc metals tested, the power-law exponent, n, were found in the range of between -0.23 to -0.63, showing a less pronounced size effect than found for fcc pillars. The power-law exponent for bcc pillar deformation is also temperature dependent and was found to scale with the ratio of test temperature, Ttest to the critical temperature for screw dislocation mobility, Tc, of the bcc metal (T*= Ttest / Tc). It is notable that the size effect exponent weakens (approaches 0) as T* decreases. However, when the experiments are carried out at temperatures close to or just above Tc, the power-law exponents approaches the value reported in the literature for a range of fcc metals (-1 < n < -0.6). The variation in the power-law exponent observed for bcc metals can be explained by the change in mobility of thermally activated screw dislocations. Their mobility can be modelled by a threshold or lattice friction stress. If this friction stress is introduced into the empirical equation that relates the strength of fcc metal pillars to their diameter, a strong correlation between size effect exponent, the normalised test temperature (T*) and friction stress is obtained. It was found that the friction stress values (Fe, Nb and V) increase as Ttest decreases from 296 to 193 K. When the pillar diameter decreases, the friction stress would be more easily overcome due to the increase in surface-to-volume ratio. The contribution of lattice friction stress on the strength is higher at larger pillars than those for nanopillars. Thus, the divergence between best fit lines has become more apparent at micron-sized pillars, resulting in weaker size effects. Furthermore, the transition in deformation morphology from localized to wavy deformation was only found in Fe pillars, as the Ttest decreased from 296 to 193 K, further revealing that temperature has also strong influence on deformation behaviours of bcc pillars.

Les études et recherches portant sur les nanomatériaux tels que les nanofils, nanoparticules ou les nano-fibres ont connu un progrès significatif. Le développement de ces structures fut soutenu par les avancées réalisées dans le domaine des technologies de micro fabrication qui permettent de nos jours, l’intégration des nanostructures sur les puces électroniques par le biais des procédés CMOS conventionnels. Ces travaux de thèse portent sur l’étude et le développement de capteurs piézoélectriques souples à base de nanofils de Nitrure de Gallium (GaN) assemblés selon deux architectures. Ces deux géométries furent étudiées dans le cadre d’une approche globale qui traite à la fois de la croissance des fils, la fabrication des capteurs et la caractérisation électrique. En se basant sur des calculs en éléments finis, nous nous sommes d’abord penchés sur la compréhension des mécanismes de fonctionnement des dispositifs dans les deux cas de figures. Nous avons également utilisé cet outil pour établir des règles de design. Les effets des paramètres géométriques des fils et des dimensions des capteurs ont été étudiés d’un point de vue théorique afin de déduire les adaptations qu’il fallait apporter sur nos procédés de fabrication pour cibler les grandeurs optimales. Finalement, des caractérisations électriques ont été réalisées sur les capteurs fabriqués? Dans le but d’approuver les règles de design d’un point de vue expérimental. Dans ce contexte, une électronique appropriée a été développée pour la lecture des signaux piézoélectriques issus des capteurs sollicités en compression sur un banc de test automatisé. / Nanomaterials sush as nanowires, nanoparticles and nanofibers have araised in past few years as a novel solution for next generation electronics thanks to their outstanding physical properties sustained by the capability of being integrated into microchips using conventional CMOS processes. Within the frame of this thematic, piezoelectric wires are one of subjects that has been studied the most recently. They have been used as an active material for electromechanical energy harvesting or sensing applications.This work studies GaN wire-based flexible piezoelectric sensors developped into two different architec-tures. We present a complete overview of the device fabrication and design starting from wire growth by MOVPE to the final electrical characterization of the sensors. Using Finite Element Modelling, we have explored the working principles of both architectures in order to understand deeply the potential genera-tion mechanisms occuring at the wire level. This method was also used to help us establish the main de-sign rules which provided guideness for the fabrication: The effects of wire geometrical parameters and device dimensions on the electrical performances of the devices were studied from a theoritical point of view to figure out the optimal geometry to be targeted by the process and adapt it accordingly. Finally, electrical characterization has been carried out on several devices in order to approve the design rules experimentally. An appropriate automated mechanical bench has been used and a proper readout circuit was developed to be able to correctly detect the actual piezoelectric signal provided by the sensors.

Foram feitos estudos das propriedades magnéticas e estruturais em nanofios de níquel em uma lâmina de alumínio. As amostras foram obtidas através da anodização em duas etapas, seguida de uma eletrodeposição AC. Foi verificado que o aumento do potencial usado nas anodizações acarretam em um aumento do tamanho dos grãos cristalinos de níquel e dos diâmetros dos nanofios. O tamanho dos grãos de níquel e dos diâmetros dos nanofios variaram, respectivamente, entre 10 a 20 nm e 30 a 50 nm. As amostras apresentam alta anisotropia de forma, com coercividade entre 565 a 725 Oe. As interações magnéticas foram estudadas através das curvas `delta´M, estas mostraram que as interações desmagnetizantes são dominantes nestes sistemas. O modelo de Stoner-Wohlfarth, acréscido de um termo de interação foi utilizado para simular e interpretar o comportamento magnético dos nanofios. Através dos resultados numéricos e experimentais foi verificado que a componente reversível (Mrev) da magnetização independe do estado inicial do sistema, diferentemente do comportamento para a componente irreversível (Mirr). Através da análise das curvas de Mrev(Mirr)Hi , provenientes dos resultados numéricos e experimentais, foi verificado que existe um forte indicativo quanto ao modo de inversão da magnetização por curling, para nanofios / Studies of magnetic and structural properties of nickel nanowires deposited on nanoporous alumina membranes were carried out. The samples were obtained by a two-step anodization, followed by an AC electrodeposition. It was noted that the diameters of the nanowires and the crystalline grain size of the deposited nickel increase with the anodization voltage. The mean diameters and the grain sizes varied from 10 to 20 nm and from 30 to 50 nm, respectively. The samples exhibited a strong shape anisotropy, with coercivities between 565 and 725 Oe. Magnetic interactions were studied via `delta´M curves, which showed that the dominant interactions are rather demagnetizing in these systems. An interacting Stoner-Wohlfarth model was developed to simulate and reproduce the magnetic behavior of the nanowires. From the comparison between numerical and experimental results (which exhibit excellent agreement), it was noted that reversible components of magnetization (Mrev) do not depend on the initial state of the system, whereas irreversible components (Mirr) do. From the analysis of Mrev(Mirr)Hi curves of numerical and experimental results, it was noted that there is strong evidence for the curling magnetization reversal mode for these systems

L'imagerie par diffraction des rayons X coh´erents (CDI) en condition de Bragg est utilis´e pour ´etudier la d´eformation de nano-objets uniques. Ceci est possible grˆace au d´eveloppement d'optique focalisante, comme les lentilles de Fresnel (FZP), produisant un faisceau sub-micronique coh´erent. Les nanostructure ´etudi´ees sont reconstruite avec des algorithmes d'inversion `a partir de donn´ees de diffraction, sous la forme d'un objet complexe, o`u l'amplitude correspond `a la densit´e ´electronique 3D et la phase correspond `a la projection de la d´eformation de l'objet (par rapport `a un r´eseau cristallin parfait) dans la direction du vecteur de diffraction. Dans ce travail, nous avons ´etudi´e la d´eformation dans des nanofils h´et´erognes (nanofil de GaAs avec une mono-couche de boˆıtes quantiques de InAs) et homog`enes (silicium fortement contraint sur isolant (sSOI)). Lorsqu'un faisceau focalis´e de rayons X est utilis´e, `a la fois l'amplitude et la phase de l'onde incidente doivent ˆetre connu pour une ´etude quantitative. Le faisceau focalis´e utilis´e pendant les exp´eriences a ´et´e recontruit avec la technique CDI, et les effets de cette fonction d'illumination sur l'imagerie de nanofils contraints ont ´et´e ´etudi´es. Mots-cl´es: Imagerie par diffraction x coh´erente, contrainte, nanofils, algorithms d'inversion / The coherent diffraction imaging technique (CDI) in Bragg condition can be used to study strain in single nanowires. This is possible due to the recent development of dedicated focusing optics, e.g. Fresnel Zone Plate (FZP), offering the possibility of focusing x-ray beams to sub-micron sizes while preserving a coherent beam. This technique allows to reconstruct (using phase retrieval algorithms) the studied nanostructure as a complex-valued density map, where the amplitude corresponds to the electronic density and the phase to the displacement of the atoms with respect to a perfect crystalline lattice projected onto the scattering vector. The application of CDI to image the strain into heterogeneous (GaAs nanowire with an insertion of 1 monolayer of quantum dots and InSb nanowire with and insertion of InP) and homogeneous highly stressed nano-structures (strained Silicon-on-Insulator lines) has been studied in this work. When using focused X-ray beams, both the amplitude and of the incoming wavefield must be known for a quantitative reconstruction. CDI has been used to reconstruct the coherent wavefield used during experiments and the effects of this illumination function for the imaging of strained nanowires have been also studied. Keywords: Coherent X-ray diffraction imaging, strain, nanowires, phase retrieval algorithm

This work examines the deposition of metallic and semiconductor elements onto self-assembled DNA templates for the fabrication of nanodevices. Biological molecules like DNA can self-assemble into a variety of complex 2-D and 3-D architectures without the need for expensive patterning tools. In addition, self-assembled DNA templates can be designed to controllably place functional nanomaterials with molecular precision. These characteristics make DNA an attractive template for fabricating electronic circuits from biological molecules. However, electrically conductive structures are required for electronic applications. While metallized DNA nanostructures have been demonstrated, the ability to make thin, continuous wires that are electrically conductive still represents a formidable challenge. DNA-templated wires have generally been granular in appearance with a resistivity approximately two to three orders of magnitude higher than that of the bulk material. An improved method for the metallization of DNA origami is examined in this work that addresses these challenges of size, morphology and conductivity of the metallized structure. Specifically, we demonstrated a metallization process that uses gold nanorod seeds followed by anisotropic electroless (autocatalytic) plating to provide improved morphology and greater control of the final metallized width of conducting metal lines. Importantly, growth during electroless deposition occurs preferentially in the length direction at a rate that is approximately four times the growth rate in the width direction, which enables fabrication of narrow, continuous wires. The electrical properties of 49 nanowires with widths ranging from 13 nm to 29 nm were characterized, and resistivity values as low as 8.9 x 10-7 Ω-m were measured, which represent some of the smallest nanowires and the lowest resistivity values reported in the literature. The metallization procedure developed on smaller templates was also successfully applied to metallize bigger DNA templates of tens of micrometers in length. In addition, a polymer-assisted annealing process was discovered to possibly improve the resistivity of DNA metal nanowires. Following metallization of bigger DNA origami structures, controlled placement of gold nanorods on a DNA breadboard (~100 x 100 nm2) to make rectangular, square and T-shaped metallic structures was also demonstrated. For site-specific placement of nanorods to a DNA template, we modified the surface of the gold nanorods with single-stranded DNA. The rods were then attached to DNA templates via complementary base-pairing between the DNA on the nanorods and the attachment strands engineered into the DNA "breadboard" template. Gaps between the nanorods were then filled controllably via anisotropic plating to make 10 nm diameter continuous metallic structures. Finally, controlled placement of metal (gold) - semiconductor (tellurium) materials on a single DNA origami template was demonstrated as another important step toward the fabrication of DNA-based electronic components. The combination of molecularly directed deposition and anisotropic metallization presented in this work represents important progress towards the creation of nanoelectronic devices from self-assembled biological templates.

To this day, fossil fuels still make up over 80% of the earth’s energy production. Many sources of renewable energy are available, but photovoltaics is the only source with the capacity proven to meet the increasing world energy needs. Third generation devices such as dye-sensitized and organic solar cells have gained much interest due to their cost effectiveness and flexibility but have yet to become commercially viable. Here methods have been studied to improve these devices with the use of Gold nanowire arrays. These additions provide plasmonic and light scattering enhancements in dye-sensitized solar cells. Different TiO2 deposition methods have been studied to protect the gold from the redox couple in the electrolyte. Several novel methods have been undertaken to incorporate gold nanowire arrays in organic solar cells with some success. Structural characterization shows the proposed architecture is achieved, but working devices met suffered from low success rate.

The structural, electronic, and superconducting properties of one dimensional materials are calculated from first principles, using the density functional theory. Nanotubes and nanowires are important building blocks in nanotechnology, in particular for nanoelectronics. In this manuscript, the growth of carbon nanotubes is studied through the interaction between carbon and the transition metal atoms used as growth catalysts. The accepted model for a new phase of nanotube-like molybdenum disulfide is critically examined using comparisons of energetic stability and types of chemical bonding in different candidate structures which have similar compositions. The epitaxial growth of diamond carbon on (100) iridium is exceptionally favorable. The differences between various substrates used experimentally are studied, and the specificity of Ir is shown. Finally, the characteristics of the electron-phonon interaction in aluminium nanowires are determined. The structural instabilities and the differences in the electron-phonon coupling are calculated for straight monoatomic wires, zigzag wires, and thicker straight wires. The constrained geometry of the wires generates a coupling which can be very strong or almost vanish, depending on the structural details, but which is concentrated in the longitudinal high-frequency phonons.

The ability to detect and quantify presence and concentration of unknown gasses is sought for applications ranging from environmental monitoring to medical analysis. Metal oxide based chemical sensing technology currently exists but the ability to provide a compositional gas breakdown reliably within a short time frame is not readily available. A very small sensor that can differentially identify the type and concentration of a gas is required. Novel methods of creating low cost and easily tuned one and two-dimensional gas sensing elements are explored. Tungsten trioxide has been thoroughly documented as an electrochromic coating, but highly sensitive WO3 elements with beam and nanowire structures have yet to be explored. Research of WO3 as a gas sensor encompasses three major components: A suitable sensing chamber with accurate analyte gas flow control and temperature control, a reliable method for WO3 deposition, and a high yield fabrication process. This thesis explores all three of these technologies. Chapter two starts with a summary of existing tungsten trioxide fabrication methods. An overview of WO3 processing follows. A comprehensive setup was designed and created to test the gas sensing response of a series of metal oxide based resistive elements through conductimetric analysis. Chapter three provides an in depth account of gas sensor test chamber design and testing. Critical test chamber aspects such as temperature control, precise gas flow control, highly efficient analyte gas switching and ease of use are presented. Chapter four outlines WO3 electrodeposition and the fabrication of beam structures for testing, while chapter five explores the templated electrodeposition of WO3 segments intercalated between gold nanowire segments. Finally, chapter six provides a summary of the research presented in this thesis as well as future directions and options available for further exploration of WO3 gas sensing elements. / Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) and Nanosystems

The structural, electronic, and superconducting properties of one dimensional materials are calculated from first principles, using the density functional theory. Nanotubes and nanowires are important building blocks in nanotechnology, in particular for nanoelectronics. In this manuscript, the growth of carbon nanotubes is studied through the interaction between carbon and the transition metal atoms used as growth catalysts. The accepted model for a new phase of nanotube-like molybdenum disulfide is critically examined using comparisons of energetic stability and types of chemical bonding in different candidate structures which have similar compositions. The epitaxial growth of diamond carbon on (100) iridium is exceptionally favorable. The differences between various substrates used experimentally are studied, and the specificity of Ir is shown. Finally, the characteristics of the electron-phonon interaction in aluminium nanowires are determined. The structural instabilities and the differences in the electron-phonon coupling are calculated for straight monoatomic wires, zigzag wires, and thicker straight wires. The constrained geometry of the wires generates a coupling which can be very strong or almost vanish, depending on the structural details, but which is concentrated in the longitudinal high-frequency phonons.

Nanowire heterostructures play a crucial role in nanoscale electronics, i.e., one-dimensional electronics derives benefits from the growth of heterostructures along the nanowire axis. We use first-principles plane-wave calculations within density functional theory with the localized density approximation (LDA) to get information about the structural and electronic properties of bare and hydrogen passivated GaAs/AlAs nanowire heterostructures. We also take into account the reconstruction of the nanowire surfaces. Modeled nanowire heterostructures are constructed using bulk atomic positions along [001] and [111] direction of zinc-blende structures and cutting out wires from this GaAs/AlAs heterostructure crystal with a diameter of 1 nm. We study for the effects of the surface passivation on the band gap and the band offsets for the planar GaAs/AlAs bulk heterostructure system and GaAs/AlAs nanowire heterostructure system. It is possible to control the potential that carriers feel in semiconductor heterostructures. For the planar lattice-matched heterostructures, the macroscopic average of potential of the two materials is constant far from the interface and there is a discontinuity at the interface depending on the composition of the heterostructure. In order to obtain the valence band offset in the heterostructure system, the shift in the macroscopic potential at the interface and the difference between the valence band maximum values of the two constituents must be added. In nanoscale heterostructures, the potential profile presents a more complex picture. The results indicate that while the discontinuity remains close to the planar limit right at the interface, there are fluctuations on the average potential profile beyond the interface developed by the inhomogeneous surface termination, that is, there are variations of the band edges beyond the interface. We report a first-principles study of the electronic properties of surface dangling-bond (SDB) states in hydrogen passivated GaAs/AlAs nanowire heterostructures with a diameter of 1 nm, where the SDB is defined as the defect due to an incomplete passivation of a surface atom. The charge transition levels of SDB states serve as a common energy reference level, such that charge transition level value for group III and V atoms is a constant value and a periodic table atomic property. We have carried out first-principles electronic structure and total energy calculations of aluminum nanowires for a series of different diameters ranging from 3 Angtrom-10 Angstrom, which is cut out from a slab of ideal bulk structure along the [001] direction. First-principles calculations of aluminum nanowires have been carried out within the density-functional theory. We use the norm-conserving pseudopotentials that are shown to yield successful results for ultrathin nanowire regime. Our results show that the number of bands crossing the Fermi level decreases with decreasing wire diameter and all wires studied are metallic.