Nanowire sharpening : application to field ionization

Abstract

Nanowire Sharpening: Application to Field Ionization Alex Leviyev, M.A. The University of Texas at Austin, 2019 Supervisor: Mark Raizen Nanowires show potential for a wide range of fields, from developing next generation solar cells, to detecting viruses, to field ionizing gasses. Their uses in such disparate fields are due to the extreme flexibility in which nanowires can be manufactured and customized to order. The heart of a nanowire, however, is it’s tip. Here surface charges accumulates in extreme densities when the wire is biased, consequently producing large electric fields that are then used in creative ways for exciting applications. My aim for this thesis is three-fold. First, I intend to establish a context for nanowires. Why were these structures studied in the first place? What are some exciting application areas? What makes nanowires unique? Etc... This will set