Large-composition-range pure-phase homogeneous InAs$_{1-x}$Sb$_x$ nanowires

Abstract

Narrow bandgap InAs$_{1-x}$Sb$_x$ nanowires show broad prospects for applications in wide spectrum infrared detectors, high-performance transistors and quantum computation. Realizing such applications require the fine control of composition and crystal structure of nanowires. However, to date, the fabrication of large-composition-range pure-phase homogeneous InAs$_{1-x}$Sb$_x$ nanowires remains a huge challenge. Here, we first report the growth of large-composition-range stemless InAs$_{1-x}$Sb$_x$ nanowires (x = 0-0.63) on Si (111) substrates by molecular-beam epitaxy. It is found that pure-phase InAs$_{1-x}$Sb$_x$ nanowires can be successfully obtained by controlling the antimony content x, nanowire diameter and nanowire growth direction. Detailed EDS data show that the antimony is uniformly distributed along the axial and radial directions of InAs$_{1-x}$Sb$_x$ nanowires and no spontaneous core-shell nanostructures form in the nanowires. Based on field-effect measurements, we confirm that InAs$_{1-x}$Sb$_x$ nanowires exhibit good conductivity and their mobilities can be up to 4200 cm^2/V.s at 7 K. Our work lays the foundation for the development of InAs$_{1-x}$Sb$_x$ nanowire optoelectronic, electronic and quantum devices.