University of the Western Cape
Growth and characterization of FeSi nanowires by chemical vapor deposition for gas sensing applications
Abstract
dc:description.abstractFeSi nanowires were synthesized via a chemical vapor deposition method. Anhydrous FeCl3 powder in this case served as the Fe source and was evaporated at a temperature of 1100oC to interact with silicon substrates which served as the silicon source. The nanowires followed the vapor solid (VS) growth mechanism, which does not require the use of a metal catalyst; the native silicon oxide layer on the silicon substrates played the role of the catalyst in the growth of these nanostructures. A second growth mechanism, involving the use of a metal catalyst to assist in the growth of the nanowires was attempted by depositing a thin film of gold on silicon substrates. The reaction yielded SiOx nanowires; these results are discussed in detail in Chapter 5. All the nanostructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Photoluminescence Spectroscopy (PL), Raman Spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).
Degree
thesis:*- Grantor dc:publisher.institution
- University of the Western Cape
- Year dc:date.issued
- 2014
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Thabethe, Sibongiseni Stanley
- Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
-
- Mwakikunga, B.W.