Investigating the mechanical properties of GeSn nanowires.
Loading...
Files
Date
2019-07-10
Authors
Kosmaca, Jelena
Meija, Raimonds
Antsov, Mikk
Kunakova, Gunta
Sonders, Raitis
Iatsunskyi, Igor
Coy, Emerson
Doherty, Jessica
Biswas, Subhajit
Holmes, Justin D.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Published Version
Abstract
Germanium tin (GeSn) has been proposed as a promising material for electronic and optical applications due to the formation of a direct band-gap at a Sn content >7 at%. Furthermore, the ability to manipulate the properties of GeSn at the nanoscale will further permit the realisation of advanced mechanical devices. Here we report for the first time the mechanical properties of GeSn nanowires (7.1–9.7 at% Sn) and assess their suitability as nanoelectromechanical (NEM) switches. Electron microscopy analysis showed the nanowires to be single crystalline, with surfaces covered by a thin native amorphous oxide layer. Mechanical resonance and bending tests at different boundary conditions were used to obtain size-dependent Young's moduli and to relate the mechanical characteristics of the alloy nanowires to geometry and Sn incorporation. The mechanical properties of the GeSn nanowires make them highly promising for applications in next generation NEM devices.
Description
Keywords
Germanium tin alloy , Nanowire , Size dependence , Mechanical behaviour
Citation
Kosmaca, J., Meija, R., Antsov, M., Kunakova, G., Sondors, R., Iatsunskyi, I., Coy, E., Doherty, J., Biswas, S., Holmes, J. D. and Erts, D. (2019) 'Investigating the mechanical properties of GeSn nanowires', Nanoscale, 11(28), pp. 13612-13619. doi: 10.1039/c9nr02740h
Link to publisher’s version
Copyright
© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2019