Synthesis and Characterization of Metal and Semiconductor Nanowires Hardev Singh Virk Professor Emeritus, Eternal University, Baru Sahib, HP, India hardevsingh.virk@gmail.com Keywords: One-dimensional Nanomaterials, Anodic alumina & Polymer templates, Electrodeposition, VLS technique, Heterostructures, Semiconductor Nanowires, Laser ablation Abstract. One-dimensional nanowires (NWs) have attracted considerable attention in recent years because of their novel physical properties and potential applications as interconnects in nanometre- scale electronics. NWs have potential applications in nanoscale electronics, optoelectronics, photonics, sensors, and solar cells due to their unique electrical, chemical, and optical properties. Several chemical and physical methods are commonly used to produce NWs. Among them, electrochemical synthesis and vapour-liquid-solid (VLS) methods to produce NWs have become popular among scientific workers due to a number of advantages. Synthesis of NWs using anodic alumina and polymer templates in an electrochemical cell has been described in detail as investigated in our laboratory. Characterization of metal and semiconductor NWs has been accomplished using scanning electron microscope (SEM), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), high resolution transmission microscope (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX). Morphology of NWs has been revealed by SEM, structure by TEM, crystallinity by XRD and chemical composition by EDAX. I-V characteristics of copper and semiconductor NWs were recorded in-situ, as grown in pores of anodic alumina template, using Dual Source Meter (Keithley Model 4200 SCS) with platinum probes for contacts. Resonating tunneling diode (RTD) characteristics of fabricated NWs have been investigated. Bulk production of Copper NWs has been described by seed growth technique. Applications of NWs are not covered in any detail under this review. Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Synthesis Techniques of Nanowires (NWs) 2.1 Template-assisted Synthesis 2.1.1 Template Preparation 2.1.2 Anodic Alumina Membrane (AAM) Fabrication 2.1.3 Track-etched Polycarbonate (PC) Templates 2.1.4 A variety of other Templates 2.2 Electrochemical Deposition 2.2.1 Methods for Improving the Quality of Nanowires 2.3 Vapour-Liquid-Solid (VLS) Method for Nanowire Synthesis 2.4 Other Synthesis Methods 3 Synthesis of Nanowires 3.1 Fabrication of Metal Nanowires using Template-assisted Synthesis 3.2 Synthesis of Semiconducting Nanowires 3.3 Synthesis of Metal-Semiconductor Heterojunctions 4 Experimental Investigations and Characterization of Nanowires 4.1 Characterization of Copper Metal Nanowires 4.1.1 AFM, SEM and FESEM Analysis 4.1.2 X-ray and EDAX Analysis 4.1.3 I-V Characteristics of Copper Nanowires 4.2 Chartacterization of Semiconductor Nanowires Solid State Phenomena Vol. 201 (2013) pp 21-64 Online available since 2013/May/14 at www.scientific.net © (2013) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/SSP.201.21 All rights reserved. No part of contents of this paper may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of TTP, www.ttp.net. (ID: 216.232.244.148, Eternal University, Himachal Pradesh, India-04/09/13,01:07:47)