Nanotrenches Induced by Catalyst Particles on ZnSe Surfaces

Abstract

Nanotrenches are induced by thermal annealing Au droplets on ZnSe surfaces. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy studies of the nanotrench structures reveal that the preferred migration directions of the catalyst droplets are along the $$ {\left\langle {{\hbox{110}}} \right\rangle } $$ direction family. On a ZnSe(111)B surface, each of the trenches is along one of the six $$ {\left\langle {{\hbox{110}}} \right\rangle } $$ directions while on a nonvicinal ZnSe(100) surface, the trenches are along a pair of antiparallel $$ {\left\langle {{\hbox{110}}} \right\rangle } $$ directions. Based on the results obtained from atomic force microscopy surface profiling and electron energy-loss spectroscopy chemical analysis techniques, a model is proposed to describe the possible formation mechanisms of the␣observed nanotrenches. The highly parallel nanotrenches induced on the Au/ZnSe(100) structure as revealed in this study are potentially useful as a template for in situ fabrication of ordered one-dimensional nanostructures (such as nanowires) of many materials.