Indium phosphide nanofiber

Catalog	ACMA00031138
Description	The nanofiber can show peculiar shapes. Sometimes they can show noncrystalline order, assuming e.g. a pentagonal symmetry or a helicoidal (spiral) shape. Electrons zigzag along pentagonal tubes and spiral along helicoidal tubes. The lack of crystalline order is due to the fact that a nanofiber is periodic only in one dimension (along its axis). Hence it can assume any order in the other directions (in plane) if this is energetically favorable. Arrays of nanofiber / nanowhiskers are a new type of nanostructures that exhibit quasi-1D characteristics. Metallic nanofiber / nanowhiskers and multi-layered nanofiber / nanowhiskers have been successfully fabricated before.
Application	There are many applications where nanowires may become important in electronic, opto-electronic and nanoelectromechanical devices, as additives in advanced composites, for metallic interconnects in nanoscale quantum devices, as field-emittors and as leads for biomolecular nanosensors. Also optical, sensing, solar cells, magnetic, and electronic device applications
Material	Indium phosphide
Notes	Before using nanofibers, the user shall determine the suitability of the product for its intended use, and user assumes all risk and liability whatsoever in connection therewith.
Packaging	Usually to customer specification
Specification	Presently diameters nominally as small as 12 nanometers

Case Study

Electrospun InP Nanofibers: Optimizing Device Preparation Methods for Improved Quality

Evcin, Atilla, et al. Crystal Research and Technology 49.5 (2014): 303-308.

Indium phosphide (InP) nanofibers exhibit promising electronic and optoelectronic properties-most notably tunable band gaps and high carrier mobilities-making them attractive for photodetectors, solar cells, and high-speed electronics. Achieving uniform, stoichiometric fibers with controlled diameters is critical to maximizing device performance.
Preparation: This work adopted an electrospinning approach to fabricate nine distinct InP-polymer precursor fibers by varying two parameters, including Applied Voltage (20 kV, 25 kV, 30 kV) and Tip-to-Collector Distance (5 cm, 7 cm, 10 cm).
A homogeneous spinning solution was prepared by mixing 0.5 M InCl3 and 0.5 M Na2HPO4·4H2O in water, then adding 1 g polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) dissolved in 12.5 mL absolute ethanol. The solution was loaded into a syringe pump delivering 0.3 mL/h through a 22-gauge needle onto a copper collector under high-voltage DC.
Key Characterizations:
· Crystallinity & Composition: X-ray diffraction confirmed zinc-blende InP with lattice parameter a = 5.874 Å.
· Thermal Stability: TG-DSC showed 64.6% weight loss and a crystallization onset near 500 °C.
· Morphology: SEM revealed average diameters ranging from ~70 nm to 85 nm, with the finest (65.8 nm) at 30 kV/7 cm.
· Electrical Properties: Four-point probe measurements yielded activation energies (Ea) around 0.2 eV for the optimal sample.
· Optical Band Gap: UV/Vis spectroscopy was performed on the as-spun fibers, giving Eg values of 1.29 eV (5 cm), 1.37 eV (7 cm), and 1.30 eV (10 cm) at 30 kV.

Integration of Indium Phosphide Nanowires into High-Performance Gas Sensors

Nyembe, Sanele, et al. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical 333 (2021): 129552.

This work employed a thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) route that simultaneously grows and catalyzes indium phosphide nanowires (InPNWs) via solution-liquid-solid (SLS). Post-synthesis, researchers carried out Temperature-Programmed Desorption (TPD) and Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS) to characterize gas-surface interactions. Finally, the InP NWs were integrated onto microfabricated electrodes to assemble a prototype gas sensor.
Synthesis of InP Nanowires: Utilized indium metalloid and phosphorus vapor under CVD conditions, yielding smooth, single-crystalline InP NWs. Reaction parameters were tuned to produce nanowires averaging 87 nm in diameter, with a tight size distribution from 70 nm to 105 nm.
Key Findings:
· CO Adsorption: TPD/Redhead analysis determined a desorption enthalpy of 142 kJ/mol; sorption temperatures spanned 220-260 °C, indicating strong chemical bonding via electron transfer.
· CH4 Adsorption: Exhibited weaker physical adsorption (van der Waals) with enthalpy ~38 kJ/mol and a low sorption range of -50 °C to -20 °C, unsuitable for room-temperature sensing.
· Temperature-Dependent Performance: Optimal CO detection is achieved at 250°C (adsorption range 220-260°C). Response times at 250°C are faster than at 300°C for all analytes.