The inset shows details of this kind of NW (TEM). Figure 1c,d shows the side view SEM images of InSb NWs obtained with InAs seed layer. Two groups of NWs are observed on the sample surface. The first group (as shown in Figure 1c) clearly shows a droplet-like check details end at the NW top. These NWs are about 2 μm in length, and 200 to 300 nm in diameter. Combined with the inset of Figure 1c, it is observed that the CYT387 manufacturer indium droplet on the NW top shows an identical (or slightly smaller) diameter to that of InSb NWs, which is a typical phenomenon for NWs grown with the vapor–liquid-solid (VLS) growth model and has also
been observed in InSb NWs grown on InAs substrates [12]. The second group of InSb NWs (as shown in Figure 1d), however, do not present droplet-like end at the NW top, and these learn more NWs present a little small length (about 1 μm), but
a similar sectional diameter to that of the first group. These two groups of NWs are observed in different areas of the sample surface. In order to probe the chemical composition distribution in the NWs, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) measurements are performed on several NWs of both groups, where the EDS spectra are obtained using a TEM electron beam operated at 200 keV. Figure 2a presents the TEM image of a NW with a droplet-like end. The framed regions ‘1’ , ‘2’ , and ‘3’ drawn on the NW TEM image indicate the areas from which the EDS spectra are taken. The EDS spectra measured in regions 1, 2, and 3 are presented in
Figure 2b. The ‘1’ of Figure 2b shows the EDS spectrum obtained on the NW top with the inset showing the chemical composition. The spectrum is composed of two main peaks corresponding to indium and copper (coming from copper grid). The ‘2’ of Figure 2b (obtained in the body area) show two main peaks corresponding to indium and antimony. The inset of Figure 2b indicates that the chemical composition of indium and antimony are almost equal. These results confirm that the rod body is dominated by InSb materials, while the top end is dominated by the indium particle. The EDS spectrum taken at the bottom of Tideglusib the NW is shown as ‘3’ in Figure 2b. In addition to indium and antimony, arsenic signal is also clearly observed although it is much weaker compared with indium and antimony signals. This can be interpreted that the arsenic signal arises from the InAs seed layer which might be wrapped up by InSb shell layers. A schematic illustration of InSb NW with indium droplet on its top is shown in Additional file 2: Figure S2b, where the InSb NWs are formed via the VLS model. In this growth model, excess indium forms on the side face and top surface of InAs NWs at some regions before the deposition of InSb due to As extravasation after switching off AsH3 flow. When InSb layer is deposited, InSb is incorporated onto the side face and top surface of InAs NWs, leading to the initiation of InSb NWs.