Fabrication and characterization of functional nanowire and tube based devices

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Recently, we have discovered that extended networks (cm-scale) of nanowires (as small as 8nm) self-organize on the flat surfaces of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) after metal evaporation. The preliminary results show that it is now possible to obtain, with a similar approach, metal nanowires on insulating polymer substrates. Fabricated by a conventional CVD process on pre-strained substrates by using different sticking coefficients on polymer surfaces, continuous as well as "dashed" nanowires form. Furthermore, they can be aligned with excellent precision in various geometries, ranging from single isolated wires to arrays of parallel and perpendicular intersecting networks. A further advantage of these new class of nanowires, other than the high amount of control and a rapid production on cm-sized substrates, is that they form on the surface. Because theses nanowires are only partially em-bedded, one side of the wire is mechanically supported by the substrate surface, while the other side is readily accessible, not only for functionalization and direct applications such as gas sen-sors but also to enable further three-dimensional structuring. Lastly, we have discovered that the metallization fibrils in polymer crazes lead to well-connected metal nanotubes. We propose to study systematically this novel approach for the production of nanowires and nanotubes. We intent to explore which material combinations allow the best conditions to generate these aligned nanostructures and find the combinations best suitable for applications. This can be done by understanding the details of the underlying growth mechanisms in terms of material properties including diffusion length, sticking coefficients, or thin film features of the applied polymer materials. The Chair for Muticomponent Materials at the University of Kiel has long-standing expertise in the field of metal-polymer interfaces and as well as in nanowire research. Since this project further investigates the controlled syntheses of nanowires with technologi-cally relevant materials, we believe that our new approach can contribute significantly to the progress in the Schwerpunktprogramm: "Nanodrähte und Nanoröhren: von kontrollierter Synthese zur Funktion".