| Semiconductor nanowires have lots of applications, but the large scale assembly of these nanowires represents a grand challenge in nanotechnology. In this dissertation, a general electrochemical/chemical (E/C) method has been developed for synthesizing semiconductor nanowire ensembles that are organized into arrays on substrate surfaces. Nanowires synthesized by the E/C method are also up to millimeter long, size-selective, polycrystalline and transferable between substrates. Three types of semiconductor nanowire ensembles have been synthesized, proving the E/C method is a general, reliable and convenient method for semiconductor nanowire synthesis. Each type of these nanowires has their distinct structural, optical and electrical properties, which were characterized by several techniques in detail. Molybdenum disulfide nanowires have different structures depending on the annealing conditions and quantum confinement effect was observed for nanoribbons. Cadmium sulfide nanowires have a shell structure and displays strong, reversible and fast photocurrent response. Cadmium selenide nanowires can be directly electrodeposited and cadmium selenide/cadmium sulfide nanowires display strong photoluminescence. |
