One-Dimensional Nanostructures and Devices of II-V Group Semiconductors

The II-V group semiconductors, with narrow band gaps, are important materials with many applications in infrared detectors, lasers, solar cells, ultrasonic multipliers, and Hall generators. Since the first report on trumpet-like Zn3P2 nanowires, one-dimensional (1-D) nanostructures of II-V group semiconductors have attracted great research attention recently because these special 1-D nanostructures may find applications in fabricating new electronic and optoelectronic nanoscale devices. This article covers the 1-D II-V semiconducting nanostructures that have been synthesized till now, focusing on nanotubes, nanowires, nanobelts, and special nanostructures like heterostructured nanowires. Novel electronic and optoelectronic devices built on 1-D II-V semiconducting nanostructures will also be discussed, which include metal-insulator-semiconductor field-effect transistors, metal-semiconductor field-effect transistors, and p-n heterojunction photodiode. We intent to provide the readers a brief account of these exciting research activities.