342. WE-Heraeus-Seminar: Science and Technology of Inorganic Nanowires and Nanotubes

Scope of the seminar

The field of inorganic and semiconducting nanowires and nanotubes is currently a hot topic of international research. It provides fascinating research of physics and chemistry of quasi one-dimensional structures. The rapid and ongoing progress of synthesis and growth of crystalline nanostructures led to a variety of exciting electrical and electro-optical properties not being seen in bulk materials. The small dimensions, the physical properties, and the preparation possibilities of inorganic nanowires offer a rich potential for applications and devices. In our search for alternative concepts to conventional semiconductor technology, inorganic nanowires and nanotubes in particular are gaining importance as active materials for applications in electronics and optoelectronics.

Compared to macroscopic systems, these solid-state nanostructures possess significantly different optical, electrical and magnetic properties. Their large surface-to-volume ratio, together with their small diameter, lead to a high exciton-binding energy, an altered band structure, and a stronger influence of surface states, just to mention a few of the phenomena that distinguish nanowires from corresponding bulk structures. In addition, nanowires offer the possibility of adjusting important material-physical parameters by selective engineering of geometry and composition.

This seminar aims to provide an interdisciplinary forum for scientists interested in the various areas of inorganic nanowire research. The lectures, which will give a review of the state of the art in basic research and device physics, will cover the following topics.

Topics

· growth and fabrication of inorganic nanowires,
· fundamental physical understanding of inherent properties of low-dimensional structures,
· fabrication of nanostructures and nanotemplates,
· new device structures,
· applications to light-emitting diodes, lasers, transistors, and sensors,
· quantum wires and quantum dots.