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<p>InP nanowires with short InAs segments were grown on InP (111)B substrates by Au assisted vapour-liquid-solid growth in a gas source molecular beam epitaxy system. Nanowire crystal structure and morphology were investigated by transmission electron microscopy as a function of temperature, growth rate, and V/III flux ratio. At 370C predominantly kinked nanowires with random morphology and low areal density were observed with a rough parasitic 2D film. At 440C, nanowire density was also reduced but the 2D film growth was smoother and nanowires grew straight without kinking. An optimum temperature of 400C maximized areal density with uniform nanowire morphology. At the optimum temperature of 400C, an increase in V/III flux ratio changed the nanowire morphology from rod-shaped to pencil like indicating increased radial growth. Growth rate did not affect the crystal structure of InP nanowires. For InAs nanowires, changing the growth rate from 1 to 0.5 μm/hr reduced the presence of stacking faults to as low as one per nanowire. Short InAs segments in InP nanowires were found to grow through two mechanisms for nanowires of length L and diameter D. The first mechanism described the supply of In to the growth front via purging of In from the Au droplet where L was proportional to D. The second mechanism involved direct deposition of adatoms on the nanowire sidewall and subsequent diffusion to the growth front where L was proportional to 1/D. For intermediate growth durations, a transition between these two mechanisms was observed. For InP and InAs nanowires, the growth mode was varied from axial to radial through the inclusion of Al to form a core shell structure. Al_xIn_1-xAs(P) shells were grown on InAs cores with Al alloy fractions between 0.53 and 0.2. These nanowires were examined by transmission electron microscopy and it was found, for all values of x in InAs-Al_xIn_1-xP structures, that relaxation had occurred through the introduction of dislocations. For InAs-Al_xIn_1-xAs structures, all values except x=0.2 had relaxed through dislocation formation. A critical thickness model was developed to determine the core-shell coherency limits which confirmed the experimental observation of strain relaxation. The effects of passivation on the electronic transport and the optical properties were examined as a function of structural core-shell passivation and chemical passivation. The mechanisms for the observed improvement in mobility for core-shell versus bare InAs nanowires was due to the reduction in ionized impurity scattering from surface states. Similarly an increase in photoluminescence intensity after ammonium sulfide passivation was explained by the reduction of donor type surface states.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Advancements in nanoscale engineering of oxide interfaces and heterostructures have led to discoveries of emergent phenomena and new artificial materials. Reactive molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) and pulsed-laser deposition (PLD) are the two most successful growth techniques for epitaxial heterostructures of complex oxides. PLD possesses experimental simplicity, low cost, and versatility in the materials to be deposited. Reactive MBE employing alternately-shuttered elemental sources (atomic layer-by-layer MBE, or ALL-MBE) can control the cation stoichiometry precisely, thus producing oxide thin films of exceptional quality. There are, however, major drawbacks to the two techniques. Reactive MBE is limited to source elements whose vapor pressure is sufficiently high; this eliminates a large fraction of 4- and 5-d metals. In addition, the need for ozone to maintain low-pressure MBE conditions increases system complexity in comparison to conventional PLD. On the other hand, conventional PLD using a compound target often results in cation off-stoichiometry in the films. This thesis presents an approach that combines the strengths of reactive MBE and PLD: atomic layer-by-layer laser MBE (ALL-Laser MBE) using separate oxide targets. Ablating alternately the targets of constituent oxides, for example SrO and TiO2, a SrTiO3 film can be grown one atomic layer at a time. Stoichiometry for both the cations and oxygen in the oxide films can be controlled. Using Sr1+xTi1-xO3, CaMnO3, BaTiO3 and Ruddlesden–Popper phase Lan+1NinO3n+1 (n = 4) as examples, the technique is demonstrated to be effective in producing oxide films with stoichiometric and crystalline perfection. By growing LaAl1+yO3 films of different stoichiometry on TiO2-terminated SrTiO3 substrate at high oxygen pressure, it is shown that the behavior of the two-dimensional electron gas at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface can be quantitatively explained by the polar catastrophe mechanism. / Physics

The continued scaling of feature size in silicon (Si)-based complimentary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology has led to a rapid increase in compute power. Resulting from increases in device densities and advances in materials and transistor design, integrated circuit (IC) performance has continued to improve while operational power (VDD) has been substantially reduced. However, as feature sizes approach the atomic length scale, fundamental limitations in switching characteristics (such as subthreshold slope, SS, and OFF-state power dissipation) pose key technical challenges moving forward. Novel material innovations and device architectures, such as group IV and III-V materials and tunnel field-effect transistors (TFETs), have been proposed as solutions for the beyond Si era. TFETs benefit from steep switching characteristics due to the band-to-band tunneling injection of carriers from source to channel. Moreover, the narrow bandgaps of III-V and germanium (Ge) make them attractive material choices for TFETs in order to improve ON-state current and reduce SS. Further, Ge grown on InₓGa₁₋ₓAs experiences epitaxy-induced strain (ε), further reducing the Ge bandgap and improving carrier mobility. Due to these reasons, the ε-Ge/InₓGa₁₋ₓAs system is a promising candidate for future TFET architectures. In addition, the ability to tune the bandgap of Ge via strain engineering makes ε-Ge/InₓGa₁₋ₓAs heterostructures attractive for nanoscale group IV-based photonics, thereby benefitting the monolithic integration of electronics and photonics on Si. This research systematically investigates the material, optical, and heterointerface properties of ε-Ge/InₓGa₁₋ₓAs heterostructures on GaAs and Si substrates. The effect of strain on the heterointerface band alignment is comprehensively studied, demonstrating the ability to modulate the effective tunneling barrier height (Ebeff) and thus the threshold voltage (VT), ON-state current, and SS in future ε-Ge/InₓGa₁₋ₓAs TFETs. Further, band structure engineering via strain modulation is shown to be an effective technique for tuning the emission properties of Ge. Moreover, the ability to heterogeneously integrate these structures on Si is demonstrated for the first time, indicating their viability for the development of next-generation high performance, low-power logic and photonic integrated circuits on Si. / Master of Science

Understanding interfacial interactions at the molecular level is important for interpreting and predicting the dynamics and mechanisms of all chemistry processes. A thorough understanding of the interaction dynamics and energy transfer between gas molecules and surfaces is essential for the study of various chemical reactions. The collisions of diatomic molecules on organic surfaces are crucial to the study of atmospheric chemistry. Molecular beam scattering experiments performed in ultra-high vacuum chambers provide insight into the dynamics of gas-surface interactions. Many questions remain to be answered in the study of gas-surface interfacial chemistry. For example, what affects the energy transfer between gas molecules and surfaces? How do intermolecular forces affect the interfacial interaction dynamics? We have approached these questions by scattering diatomic gas molecules from functionalized self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). Our results indicate that the intermolecular forces between gas molecules and surfaces play an important role in the energy transfer processes. Moreover, the stronger the intermolecular forces, the more often the incident molecules come into thermal equilibrium with the surface. Furthermore, most of the previous approaches toward understanding gas-surface interaction dynamics considered the interactions as independent incidents. By scattering O2, N2, CO and NO on both CH3- and OH- terminated SAM, we found a correlation between the gas-surface interactions and a bulk property, solubility. Both being strongly affected by intermolecular forces, the gas-surface energy transfer and solubility of gases in surface-similar solvents (water for OH-SAM, n-hexane for CH3-SAM) have a positive correlation. This correlation facilitates the understanding of interfacial dynamics at the molecular level, and helps predict the outcome of the similar-size gas collisions on surfaces. / Master of Science

A molecular-level understanding of gas-surface energy exchange and reaction mechanisms will aid in the prediction of the environmental fate of pollutants and enable advances toward catalysts for the decomposition of toxic compounds. To this end, molecular beam scattering experiments performed in an ultra-high vacuum environment have provided key insights into the initial collision and outcome of critical interfacial processes on model systems. Results from these surface science experiments show that, upon gas-surface collisions, energy transfer depends, in subtle ways, on both the properties of the gas molecules and surfaces. Specifically, model organic surfaces, comprised of long-chain methyl- and hydroxyl-terminated self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have been employed to test how an interfacial hydrogen bonding network may affect the ability of a gas-phase compound to thermally accommodate (typically, the first step in a reaction) with the surfaces. Results indeed show that small organic compounds transfer less energy to the interconnected hydroxyl-terminated SAM (OH-SAM) than to the organic surface with methyl groups at the interface. However, the dynamics also appear to depend on the polarizability of the impinging gas-phase molecule. The π electrons in the double bond of ethene (C2H4) and the triple bond in ethyne (C2H2) appear to act as hydrogen bond acceptors when the molecules collide with the OH-SAM. The molecular beam scattering studies have demonstrated that these weak attractive forces facilitate energy transfer. A positive correlation between energy transfer and solubilities for analogous solute-solvent combinations was observed for the CH3-SAM (TD fractions: C2H6 > C2H4 > C2H2), but not for the OH-SAM (TD fractions: C2H6 > C2H2 > C2H4). The extent of energy transfer between ethane, ethene, and ethyne and the CH3-SAM appears to be determined by the degrees of freedom or rigidity of the impinging compound, while gas-surface attractive forces play a more decisive role in controlling the scattering dynamics at the OH-SAM. Beyond fundamental studies of energy transfer, this thesis provides detailed surface-science-based studies of the mechanisms involved in the uptake and decomposition of chemical warfare agent (CWA) simulants on or within metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The work presented here represents the first such study reported in with traditional surface-science based methods have been applied to the study of MOF chemistry. The mechanism and kinetics of interactions between dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) or dimethyl chlorophosphate (DMCP), key CWA simulants, and Zr6-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been investigated with in situ infrared spectroscopy (IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and DFT calculations. DMMP and DMCP were found to adsorb molecularly (physisorption) to the MOFs through the formation of hydrogen bonds between the phosphoryl oxygen and the free hydroxyl groups associated with Zr6 nodes or dangling -COH groups on the surface of crystallites. Unlike UiO-66, the infrared spectra for UiO-67 and MOF-808, recorded during DMMP exposure, suggest that uptake occurs through both physisorption and chemisorption. The XPS spectra of MOF-808 zirconium 3d electrons reveal a charge redistribution following exposure to DMMP. Besides, the analysis of the phosphorus 2p electrons following exposure and thermal annealing to 600 K indicates that two types of stable phosphorus-containing species exist within the MOF. DFT calculations (performed by Professor Troya at Virginia Tech), were used to guide the IR band assignments and to help interpret the XPS features, suggest that uptake is driven by nucleophilic addition of a surface OH group to DMMP with subsequent elimination of a methoxy substituent to form strongly bound methyl methylphosphonic acid (MMPA). With similar IR features of MOF-808 upon DMCP exposure, the reaction pathway of DMCP in Zr6-MOFs may be similar to that for DMMP, but with the final product being methyl chlorophosphonic acid (elimination of the chlorine) or MMPA (elimination of a methoxy group). The rates of product formation upon DMMP exposure of the MOFs suggest that there are two distinct uptake processes. The rate constants for these processes were found to differ by approximately an order of magnitude. However, the rates of molecular uptake were found to be nearly identical to the rates of reaction, which strongly suggests that the reaction rates are diffusion limited. Overall, and perhaps most importantly, this research has demonstrated that the final products inhibit further reactions within the MOFs. The strongly bound products could not be thermally driven from the MOFs prior to the decomposition of the MOFs themselves. Therefore, new materials are needed before the ultimate goal of creating a catalyst for the air-based destruction of traditional chemical nerve agents is realized. / Doctor of Philosophy / A molecular-level understanding of gas-surface energy exchange and reaction mechanisms will aid in the prediction of the environmental fate of pollutants and enable advances toward catalysts for the decomposition of toxic compounds. Our gas-surface scattering experiments performed in an ultra-high vacuum environment have provided key insights into the outcome of critical interfacial processes on model systems. Results show that energy transfer upon gas-surface collisions depends on both the properties of the gas molecules and surfaces. Due to the formation of interfacial hydrogen bonding network in hydroxyl-terminated surface, the small organic compounds transfer less energy to it than to the organic surface with methyl groups at the interface. The dynamics also appear to depend on the properties of the impinging gas-phase molecule. The π electrons in the double bond of ethene and the triple bond in ethyne act as hydrogen bond acceptors when the molecules collide with the hydroxyl-terminated surface. The attractive forces facilitate energy transfer. A positive correlation between energy transfer and solubilities for analogous solute-solvent combinations was observed for the methyl-terminated surface, but not for the hydroxyl-terminated surface. The extent of energy transfer between ethane, ethene, and ethyne and the methyl-terminated surface appears to be determined by the degrees of freedom or rigidity of the gas, while gas-surface attractive forces play a more decisive role in controlling the scattering dynamics at the hydroxyl-terminated surface. Furthermore, this thesis provides detailed surface-science-based studies of the mechanisms involved in the uptake and decomposition of chemical warfare agent (CWA) simulants on or within metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) and dimethyl chlorophosphate (DMCP), key CWA simulants, physisorbed to the MOFs through the formation of hydrogen bonds between the phosphoryl oxygen and the free hydroxyl groups associated with inorganic nodes or dangling -COH groups on the surface of crystallites. The infrared spectra for UiO-67 and MOF-808 suggest that uptake occurs through both physisorption and chemisorption. The XPS spectra of MOF-808 zirconium 3d electrons reveal a charge redistribution following exposure to DMMP. Besides, the analysis of the phosphorus 2p electrons following exposure and thermal annealing to 600 K indicates that two types of stable phosphorus-containing species exist within the MOF. DFT calculations suggest that uptake is driven by nucleophilic addition of a surface OH group to DMMP with subsequent elimination of a methoxy substituent to form strongly bound methyl methylphosphonic acid (MMPA). With similar IR features of MOF-808 upon DMCP exposure, the reaction pathway of DMCP in MOFs may be similar to that for DMMP, but with the final product being methyl chlorophosphonic acid (elimination of the chlorine) or MMPA (elimination of a methoxy group). The rates of product formation suggest that there are two distinct uptake processes. The rate constants for these processes were found to be nearly identical to the rates of physisorption, which suggests that the reaction rates are diffusion limited. Overall, this research has demonstrated that the final products inhibit further reactions within the MOFs. The strongly bound products could not be thermally driven from the MOFs prior to the decomposition of the MOFs themselves. Therefore, new materials are needed before the ultimate goal of creating a catalyst for the air-based destruction of traditional chemical nerve agents is realized.