Synthesis and engineering of quasi-one dimensional nano-materials

Quasi-one-dimensional (Q1D) nanoscale systems have been intensively investigated and proven to be of great potential as nanoelectronics building blocks. Nanowires made from organic, inorganic are now available and give research opportunities for understanding of nanomaterials and future applications. In this field, the research can be divided into three categories: nanomaterial synthesis, material characterizations, device fabrication for applications. These three main thrusts govern the research route to understand the Q1D systems. This dissertation also follows these three basic elements and consists of eight chapters. Chapter 1 will give an introduction of low dimensional systems. Chapter 2 and 3 will discuss how nanowires be synthesized in vapor phase. Chapter 4 and 5 will investigate the liquid phase growth. In Chapter 6, unique properties of nanowires due to the shrinkage in size will be depicted. Chapter 7 demonstrates a process to implement high performance nanowire field effect transistors, which are the basic element in nanoelectronics devices. In the last chapter, few possible future directions of nanoelectronic applications will be given and discussed.