Avinash Patsha

Optically confined polarized resonance Raman studies in identifying crystalline orientation of sub-diffraction limited AlGaN nanostructure

An optical characterization tool of Raman spectroscopy with extremely weak scattering cross section tool is not popular to analyze scattered signal from a single nanostructure in the sub-diffraction regime. In this regard, plasmonic assisted characterization tools are only relevant in spectroscopic studies of nanoscale object in the sub-diffraction limit. We have reported polarized resonance Raman spectroscopic (RRS) studies with strong electron-phonon coupling to understand the crystalline orientation of a single AlGaN nanowire of diameter ∼100 nm. AlGaN nanowire is grown by chemical vapor deposition technique using the catalyst assisted vapor-liquid-solid process. The results are compared with the high resolution transmission electron microscopic analysis. As a matter of fact, optical confinement effect due to the dielectric contrast of nanowire with respect to that of surrounding media assisted with electron-phonon coupling of RRS is useful for the spectroscopic analysis in the sub-diffraction limit of...

Localized tip enhanced Raman spectroscopic study of impurity incorporated single GaN nanowire in the sub-diffraction limit

The localized effect of impurities in single GaN nanowires in the sub-diffraction limit is reported using the study of lattice vibrational modes in the evanescent field of Au nanoparticle assisted tip enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS). GaN nanowires with the O impurity and the Mg dopants were grown by the chemical vapor deposition technique in the catalyst assisted vapor-liquid-solid process. Symmetry allowed Raman modes of wurtzite GaN are observed for undoped and doped nanowires. Unusually very strong intensity of the non-zone center zone boundary mode is observed for the TERS studies of both the undoped and the Mg doped GaN single nanowires. Surface optical mode of A1 symmetry is also observed for both the undoped and the Mg doped GaN samples. A strong coupling of longitudinal optical (LO) phonons with free electrons, however, is reported only in the O rich single nanowires with the asymmetric A1(LO) mode. Study of the local vibration mode shows the presence of Mg as dopant in the single GaN nanowires.

Nonpolar p-GaN/n-Si heterojunction diode characteristics: a comparison between ensemble and single nanowire devices

The electrical and photodiode characteristics of ensemble and single p-GaN nanowire and n-Si heterojunction devices were studied. Ideality factor of the single nanowire p-GaN/n-Si device was found to be about three times lower compared to that of the ensemble nanowire device. Apart from the deep-level traps in p-GaN nanowires, defect states due to inhomogeneity in Mg dopants in the ensemble nanowire device are attributed to the origin of the high ideality factor. Photovoltaic mode of the ensemble nanowire device showed an improvement in the fill-factors up to 60% over the single nanowire device with fill-factors up to 30%. Responsivity of the single nanowire device in the photoconducting mode was found to be enhanced by five orders, at 470 nm. The enhanced photoresponse of the single nanowire device also confirms the photoconduction due to defect states in p-GaN nanowires.

Spectroscopic investigation of native defect induced electron–phonon coupling in GaN nanowires

The integration of advanced optoelectronic properties in nanoscale devices of group III nitride can be realized by understanding the coupling of charge carriers with optical excitations in these nanostructures. The native defect induced electron–phonon coupling in GaN nanowires are reported using various spectroscopic studies. The GaN nanowires having different native defects are grown in an atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition technique. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis revealed the variation of Ga/N ratios in nanowires having possible native defects, with respect to their growth parameters. The analysis of the characteristic features of electron–phonon coupling in the Raman spectra show the variations in carrier density and mobility, with respect to the native defects in unintentionally doped GaN nanowires. The radiative recombination of donor acceptor pair transitions and the corresponding LO phonon replicas observed in photoluminescence studies further emphasize the role of native defects in electron–phonon coupling.

Growth of GaN nanostructures on graphene

GaN nanostructures with different morphologies are grown on few layer graphene (FLG) as template, using chemical-vapor-deposition technique in a self catalytic process using the large surface energy of graphene. Raman and photoluminescence studies reveal wurtzite GaN phase. Morphologies of these nanostructures varied depending on the number of layers in each template. Photoluminescence study reveals that growth occurs without deterioration of FLG layers and no incorporation of carbon in GaN nanostructures

Size-Dependent Localized Phonon Population in Semiconducting Si Nanowires

The optical phonons in semiconductor nanostructures play an indispensable role in fundamental phenomenon and device applications based on these nanostructures. We study the Raman spectroscopy of optical phonons in Si nanowires (NWs) whose sizes are beyond the phonon confinement regime. The peak shift and unusual asymmetric broadening by one-phonon mode in Si NWs is observed during far-field Raman studies. Using an appropriate thermal anchoring and localized Raman measurements on single NWs by near-field tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS), we demonstrate the decoupling of multiple origins responsible for the peak shift accompanied by asymmetric broadening of the one-phonon mode and the appearance of multiple phonon peaks from a single measurement area. A model based on the localized phonon population induced by NW size-dependent charge depletion is proposed to explain the observed dependence of phonon characteristics on NW size. The scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy measurements confirm the size-dependent intrinsic semiconductor surface and interface states-induced charge depletions in single Si NWs. The study clearly suggests the size-dependent phonon characteristics of Si NWs which are crucial for several NW-based photovoltaic and thermoelectric devices.

Effect of Ar+ implantation on the optical properties of Al/GaN nanowires

Ar+ implantation was carried out on Al coated GaN nanowires for the formation of AlGaN ternary alloy. Vibrational studies show one-mode phonon behavior corresponding to longitudinal optical (LO) mode of A1 symmetry (A1(LO)) for the wurtzite phase of AlGaN nanowires in the random alloy model. Photoluminescence studies demonstrate the dominance of the defect related peak in random alloy as compared to as-grown GaN nanowires.

Optical properties of Mg doped p-type GaN nanowires

Mg doped p-type GaN nanowires are grown using chemical vapor deposition technique in vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) process. Morphological and structural studies confirm the VLS growth process of nanowires and wurtzite phase of GaN. We report the optical properties of Mg doped p-type GaN nanowires. Low temperature photoluminescence studies on as-grown and post-growth annealed samples reveal the successful incorporation of Mg dopants. The as-grwon and annealed samples show passivation and activation of Mg dopants, respectively, in GaN nanowires.

Self-catalyzed anisotropic growth of GaN spirals

GaN spirals with homogeneous size are grown using chemical-vapor-deposition technique in a self catalytic process. Raman and photoluminescence (PL) studies reveal wurtzite GaN phase. Nucleation of GaN sphere takes place with the agglomeration Ga clusters and simultaneous reaction with NH3. A growth mechanism involving diffusion limited aggregation process initiating supersaturation and subsequent neck formation along with possible role of thermodynamic fluctuation in different crystalline facets of GaN, is described for the anisotropic spiral structures. Temperature dependent PL spectra show strong excitonic emissions along with the presence of free-to-bound transition.

Catalysis free growth of GaN nanostructures

GaN nanostructures are grown using catalysis free chemical-vapor-deposition technique following vapour-solid growth mechanism. Nanostructures ranging from solid clusters, nanoprotruded microbelts, nanotips, and hollow nanotubes are demonstrated. Resonance Raman studies reveal wurtzite GaN phase with crystalline quality in these nanostructures. Raman area mapping is used to understand some of the noble morphological features. A detailed growth mechanism is described for the growth of these nanostructures.