We report growth of one-dimensional semiconductor nanocrystals, nanowhiskers, in which segments of the whisker with different composition are formed, illustrated by InAs whiskers containing segments of InP. Our conditions for growth allow the formation of abrupt interfaces and heterostructure barriers of thickness from a few monolayers to 100s of nanometers, thus creating a one-dimensional landscape along which the electrons move. The crystalline perfection, the quality of the interfaces, and the variation in the lattice constant are demonstrated by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and the conduction band off-set of 0.6 eV is deduced from the current due to thermal excitation of electrons over an InP barrier.

We report on the growth of designed heterostructures placed within semiconductor nanowhiskers, exemplified by the InAs/InP material system. Based on transmission electron microscopy, we deduce the interfaces between InAs and InP to be atomically sharp. Electrical measurements of thermionic emission across an 80-nm-wide InP heterobarrier, positioned inside InAs whiskers 40 nm in diameter, yield a barrier height of 0.6 eV. On the basis of these results, we propose new branches of physics phenomena as well as new families of device structures that will now be possible to realize and explore.

Determination of the complex dielectric function and the critical-point energies of (Al x Ga 1Ϫx) 0.51 In 0.49 P, over the full range of composition x and for photon energies E from 0.75 to 5 eV is reported from variable angle of incidence spectroscopic ellipsometry. Native-oxide effects on the (Al x Ga 1Ϫx) 0.51 In 0.49 P optical functions are removed numerically. The highly disordered state of the metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy grown samples is analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. Optical anisotropy investigations revealed that the order-induced optical birefringence is negligible throughout. The augmentation of A. D. Rakić and M. L. Majewski ͓J. Appl. Phys. 80, 5909 ͑1996͔͒ to Adachi's critical-point model, i.e., consideration of Gaussian-like broadening function instead of Lorentzian broadening, is used for calculation of the isotropic (Al x Ga 1Ϫx) 0.51 In 0.49 P dielectric function. The optical functions spectra consistently match the experimental data, whereas previously reported model dielectric functions fail to reproduce the correct absorption behavior of the quaternary, especially near the fundamental band-to-band transition. The results are compared to those presented previously, and influence of spontaneous chemical ordering is discussed.

Resonant tunneling was observed through single InAs quantum dot (QD) stacks embedded in InP barriers with peak-to-valley ratios as high as 85 at 7 K. Negative differential resistance in the current–voltage [I(V)] characteristics was obtained up to a point above the temperature of liquid nitrogen. These features were observed in measurements on low-density QD stacks, in which a macroscopic ohmic contact covered less than 150 QD stacks. Due to the design of the structure, the upper QD in the stack has the function of a zero-dimensional emitter. Electrons easily fill the upper dot, whereas tunneling through the entire structure is only allowed when two states in the dots align energetically, resulting in sharp resonant tunneling peaks with high peak-to-valley ratios.

Resonant tunneling through a single layer of self-assembled quantum dots (QDs) is compared to tunneling through two layers of vertically aligned (stacked) dots. The difference can be viewed as going from a two-dimensional emitter to a zero-dimensional emitter. The temperature dependence of current peaks originating in tunneling through individual QDs and individual stacks is used to clarify this point. In addition, we show that the statistical size distribution of self-assembled quantum dots causing the inhomogeneous broadening in luminescence experiments can be analyzed in a resonant tunneling experiment.