Description:

The formation of nanostructures is important in the development of nanoscale devices and in the application of the properties of nanomaterials. Researcher have shown how tree-like nanostructures ('nanotrees') can be formed through the self-assembled growth of semiconductor nanowires via the vapour–liquid–solid growth mode. This bottom-up method uses initial 'seeding' by catalytic nanoparticles to form the trunk, followed by the sequential seeding of branching structures.  This controlled seeding method has potential as a generic means to form complex branching structures, and may also offer opportunities for applications, such as the mimicking of photosynthesis in nanotrees.
The SEM image above shows a nanoscale 'forest' of ordered 'nanotrees' grown in MOVPE, at 460 °C, with 8.9 branches per tree on average, viewed at an angle of 45° from the normal to the surface.

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