Polarized cathodoluminescence study of InP nanowires by transmission electron microscopy

Cathodoluminescence (CL) spectra and polarized monochromatic CL images of InP nanowires were studied using a transmission electron microscope combined with a CL detection system. Emission spectra from individual nanowires showed a broad single peak with a peak energy of 1.6 eV, which is higher than expected from the quantum confinement effect for an average nanowire with a diameter of 20 nm. An individual nanowire could be resolved in the monochromatic CL images. The emission is highly polarized along the wire axis with a degree of polarization of more than 50%.