Study of the nucleation and growth of InP nanowires on silicon with gold-indium catalyst

The nucleation and the structural and optical properties of InP nanowires (NWs) grown on Si(111) by molecular beam epitaxy using the vapor-liquid-solid method with gold-indium droplets as catalyst are investigated as a function of the temperature of the formation of the catalyst droplets and of the NW growth time. It is highlighted a complex behavior of the gold-indium catalyst droplets depending on the temperature. It is then shown than an InP pyramid-like pedestal is formed prior to the NW growth. When the temperature of formation of the catalyst droplets is lower than 550 °C, almost only vertically standing pure wurtzite InP NWs are grown on Si(111).