Semiconductor nanowire heterodimensional structures toward advanced optoelectronic devices.

Abstract

Semiconductor nanowires are considered as one of the most promising candidates for next-generation devices due to their unique quasi-one-dimensional structures and novel physical properties. In recent years, advanced heterostructures have been developed by combining nanowires with low-dimensional structures such as quantum wells, quantum dots, and two-dimensional materials. Those heterodimensional structures overcome the limitations of homogeneous nanowires and show great potential in high-performance nano-optoelectronic devices. In this review, we summarize and discuss recent advances in fabrication, properties and applications of nanowire heterodimensional structures. Major heterodimensional structures including nanowire/quantum well, nanowire/quantum dot, and nanowire/2D-material are studied. Representative optoelectronic devices including lasers, single photon sources, light emitting diodes, photodetectors, and solar cells are introduced in detail. Related prospects and challenges are also discussed.