Photoluminescence, Thermal Transport, and Breakdown in Joule-Heated GaN Nanowires

Abstract

Thermal transport and breakdown in Joule-heated GaN nanowires is investigated using a combination of microphotoluminescence and in situ TEM characterization. The thermal conductivity of the nanowires is estimated to be <80 W/m.K, which is substantially below the bulk GaN value. Catastrophic breakdown in individual nanowires is observed to occur at a maximum temperature of approximately 1000 K, and nanowire morphology near the breakdown region indicates that failure occurs via thermal decomposition, a conclusion that is validated by in situ TEM images obtained during the failure process.

Electrothermal phenomena in zinc oxide nanowires and contacts

“…The temperature distribution depends strongly on nanowire electrical resistance as demonstrated by the case where the large nanowire resistivity leads to a peak device temperature within the nanowire. Several researchers have conducted experiments using the resulting nanowire/nanotube failure to characterize the nanostructure's properties [20,30]. Nonetheless, there is another critical failure mode in which metal-nanowire contact resistance dominates.…”

“…Using a contact resistance model based on acoustic mismatch theory [18], the thermal resistance of a nanowire point contact and variations in phonon transmission through welded and non-welded nanowire contacts were determined for indium arsenide nanowires [19]. Heat generation and thermal failure limit the reliability of nanowire/nanotube devices [20,21]. Heat generation and electrical breakdown studies on individual carbon nanotubes show failure often occurs in the interior, away from contacts [21].…”

Observation of Space-Charge-Limited Transport in InAs Nanowires

“…(A movie of one of the Joule failure experiments is available as supplementary downloadable material at http://ieeexplore.ieee.org.) The temperature profile in the NWs was estimated using a 1-dimensional heat flow model [21]. The model assumes that the temperature distribution in the NW depends only on the axial coordinate, a condition that is appropriate in our case given that the wires are freestanding in vacuum, with little heat flow to the environment.…”

In situ transmission electron microscopy of individual carbon nanotetrahedron/nanoribbon structures in Joule heating

“…[1][2][3][4] For example, we reported in-situ TEM observations of Joule heating of nanowires such as Si nanochains 5,6 and SiC nanowires. 7,8 These studies show that both Si nanochains and SiC nanowires are converted into carbon-nanotubes by Joule heating.…”

“…Stability of nanomaterials such as nanotubes and nanowires under Joule heating is crucial when they are utilized for electronic devices and wiring; therefore, the behavior of nanomaterials under Joule heating has been investigated by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) by many research groups. [1][2][3][4] For example, we reported in-situ TEM observations of Joule heating of nanowires such as Si nanochains 5,6 and SiC nanowires. 7,8 These studies show that both Si nanochains and SiC nanowires are converted into carbon-nanotubes by Joule heating.…”