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| Open AccessSingle-photon detection using large-scale high-temperature MgB2 sensors at 20 K
Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors require operation at T < 4 K, and successful attempts to extend their operation at 20 K and above using high-TC BSCCO flakes come at the cost of lower scalability to large areas. Here, the authors break this trade-off by using high-quality MgB2 films and exploiting a helium-ion beam-based irradiation process.
- Ilya Charaev
- , Emma K. Batson
- & Karl K. Berggren
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Article
| Open AccessEmissive brightening in molecular graphene nanoribbons by twilight states
The authors demonstrate that the band structure of graphene nanoribbons is modulated by cove edges, brightening the luminescence 4-fold via emission from otherwise dark twilight states. High spectral resolution of the optical response reveals strong vibron-electron coupling
- Bernd K. Sturdza
- , Fanmiao Kong
- & Robin J. Nicholas
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Article
| Open AccessDefect-induced triple synergistic modulation in copper for superior electrochemical ammonia production across broad nitrate concentrations
Converting nitrate to ammonia in wastewater with a wide range of nitrate concentrations remains a challenging task. Here the authors report defect-rich Cu nanowire electrocatalyst which can achieve 50 to 1100 mA cm−2 and over 90% Faradaic efficiency using 1–100 mM nitrate wastewater.
- Bocheng Zhang
- , Zechuan Dai
- & Genqiang Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessVelocities of transmission eigenchannels and diffusion
Wave scattering can be described with a diffusion model in which the velocity is randomized by scattering. Here the authors find that the velocities of different transmission eigenchannels are distinct on all length scales.
- Azriel Z. Genack
- , Yiming Huang
- & Zhou Shi
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Article
| Open AccessTri-system integration in metal-oxide nanocomposites via in-situ solution-processed method for ultrathin flexible transparent electrodes
Fabricating flexible transparent electrodes with robust operational stability alongside electrical and mechanical properties is challenging. Here, Kim et al. develop ultrathin flexible transparent electrodes using in-situ solution-processing and unveil interface dynamics of the integrated tri-system.
- John Jinwook Kim
- , Kojima Shuji
- & Wallace C. H. Choy
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Article
| Open AccessIdentifying the distinct roles of dual dopants in stabilizing the platinum-nickel nanowire catalyst for durable fuel cell
Doping strategies have been shown to stabilize the active platinum-nickel (PtNi) catalyst in fuel cells, however, the atomistic mechanism is less known. Here, the authors identify the roles of Mo and Au dopants in improving the durability of a PtNi nanowire catalyst for fuel cells.
- Lei Gao
- , Tulai Sun
- & Hongwen Huang
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Article
| Open AccessDirect and integrating sampling in terahertz receivers from wafer-scalable InAs nanowires
Authors report on nanofacet engineering of wafer‐scalable InAs nanowires enabling the operation of THz photodetectors in direct or integrating sampling mode, with performance comparable to commercial InP technology.
- Kun Peng
- , Nicholas Paul Morgan
- & Michael B. Johnston
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Article
| Open AccessMechanically tunable organogels from highly charged polyoxometalate clusters loaded with fluorescent dyes
Functionalizing inorganic organogels is a challenge and can have a negative impact on their mechanical properties. Here, the authors present nanowire-based organogels based on highly charged polyoxometalate cluster units that are mechanically tuned and loaded with fluorescent dyes.
- Fenghua Zhang
- , Zhong Li
- & Xun Wang
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Article
| Open AccessLow-dimensional heat conduction in surface phonon polariton waveguide
Heat conduction in solids is known to be contributed by phonons and electrons. Here, authors observe enhanced and non-diffusive thermal conductance mediated by surface phonon polaritons in polar dielectric nanoribbon waveguides.
- Yu Pei
- , Li Chen
- & Renkun Chen
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Article
| Open AccessSolving complex nanostructures with ptychographic atomic electron tomography
Transmission electron microscopy is essential for three-dimensional atomic structure determination, but solving complex heterogeneous structures containing light elements remains challenging. Here, authors solve a complex nanostructure using atomic resolution ptychographic electron tomography.
- Philipp M. Pelz
- , Sinéad M. Griffin
- & Colin Ophus
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Article
| Open AccessCryogenic multiplexing using selective area grown nanowires
The authors demonstrate a large ensemble of quantum dots which is characterized using a cryogenic multiplexer-demultiplexer circuit based on selective area growth nanowires, establishing the feasibility of scaling future quantum circuits.
- Dāgs Olšteins
- , Gunjan Nagda
- & Thomas S. Jespersen
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Article
| Open AccessAutonomous nanorobots with powerful thrust under dry solid-contact conditions by photothermal shock
Optically trapping objects, marked by Nobel Prizes in 1997 and 2018 for applications in vacuum and liquids, remains challenging on solid surfaces. Here, the authors demonstrate a breakthrough by using photothermal-shock tweezers and explore nano-conventional robot applications
- Zhaoqi Gu
- , Runlin Zhu
- & Fuxing Gu
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Article
| Open AccessSpin-filtered measurements of Andreev bound states in semiconductor-superconductor nanowire devices
Andreev bound states can form in hybrid semiconducting-superconducting devices and can mirror the experimental signatures of the much sought topologically non-trivial Majorana bound states. Here, van Driel, Wang and coauthors present a method of directly measuring the spin-polarized excitation spectrum of Andreev bound states.
- David van Driel
- , Guanzhong Wang
- & Tom Dvir
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Article
| Open AccessDual-modal piezotronic transistor for highly sensitive vertical force sensing and lateral strain sensing
Developing mechanical sensors with two working modes for detecting vertical force and lateral strain is challenging. Here, Ge et al. report a piezotronic transistor with protrusions that enable dual-modal functionality and improve sensing performance.
- Rui Ge
- , Qiuhong Yu
- & Yong Qin
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Article
| Open AccessControl of metal oxides’ electronic conductivity through visual intercalation chemical reactions
Cation intercalation is an effective method to optimise the electronic structures of metal oxides. Here authors present a visual intercalation chemical synthesis strategy to control intercalated structures of metal oxides and synthesise flexible conductive metal oxide films in one minute at room temperature.
- Yuanyuan Zhang
- , Xiaohua Zhang
- & Jianhua Yan
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Article
| Open AccessHigh-efficiency, flexible and large-area red/green/blue all-inorganic metal halide perovskite quantum wires-based light-emitting diodes
Cao et al. reports highly efficient, flexible, and larger-area Red/Green/Blue perovskite light-emitting diodes based on all-inorganic metal halide perovskite quantum wires arrays fabricated by porous alumina membranes assisted solution method.
- Yang Bryan Cao
- , Daquan Zhang
- & Zhiyong Fan
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Article
| Open AccessShort-wave infrared cavity resonances in a single GeSn nanowire
Group-IV nanowires hold great promise for building ideal light sources for photonic integrated circuits. This study presents an observation of cavity resonances in a single GeSn nanowire, laying the foundation for realizing group-IV nanowire lasers.
- Youngmin Kim
- , Simone Assali
- & Oussama Moutanabbir
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Article
| Open AccessUltracompact single-nanowire-morphed grippers driven by vectorial Lorentz forces for dexterous robotic manipulations
A single nanowire morphing strategy has been established to construct ultracompact soft robotic grippers, capable of large amplitude multi-dimensional maneuvering and dexterous manipulation of microscale objects, under swift Lorentz forces driving.
- Jiang Yan
- , Ying Zhang
- & Linwei Yu
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Article
| Open AccessA corrosion-resistant RuMoNi catalyst for efficient and long-lasting seawater oxidation and anion exchange membrane electrolyzer
Direct seawater electrolysis is promising for sustainable hydrogen production but suffers severe side reactions and corrosion. Here, the authors report a corrosion-resistant electrocatalyst with in situ-formed chloride-ion-repelling cation layer for efficient and long-lasting seawater oxidation.
- Xin Kang
- , Fengning Yang
- & Bilu Liu
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Article
| Open AccessElectrostatic control of the proximity effect in the bulk of semiconductor-superconductor hybrids
The proximity effect in semiconductor-superconductor nanowires is expected to generate an induced gap in the semiconductor. Here, the authors study the superconducting proximity effect in InSb nanowires with an Al/Pt shell, demonstrating control of the induced gap using electric and magnetic fields.
- Nick van Loo
- , Grzegorz P. Mazur
- & Leo P. Kouwenhoven
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Article
| Open AccessNanowire-based smart windows combining electro- and thermochromics for dynamic regulation of solar radiation
Smart windows offer more efficient sunlight modulation and heat management. Here, the authors propose a co-assembly strategy to produce smart windows that combine electrochromic and thermochromic functions with tunable components and ordered structures for dynamic solar radiation regulation.
- Si-Zhe Sheng
- , Jin-Long Wang
- & Shu-Hong Yu
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Article
| Open AccessControllable dimensionality conversion between 1D and 2D CrCl3 magnetic nanostructures
The isolation of graphene lead to a surge of interest in van der Waals materials, with more recent isolation of individual layers of transition metal chalcogenides, and various magnetic van der Waals materials. For many of these materials, controlled growth of one-dimensional systems, nanoribbons for example, have been demonstrated. Here, Lu et al add to this CrCl3, a van der Waals magnetic material, growing one-dimensional wires and observing their magnetic ordering via scanning tunneling microscopy.
- Shuangzan Lu
- , Deping Guo
- & Chendong Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessOxynitrides enabled photoelectrochemical water splitting with over 3,000 hrs stable operation in practical two-electrode configuration
Solar photoelectrochemical reactions are one of the most promising paths for sustainable energy production, but systems with high efficiency and long-term stability have remained elusive. Here, the authors show a photoelectrode strategy that enables high efficiency and long-term stability.
- Yixin Xiao
- , Xianghua Kong
- & Zetian Mi
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Article
| Open AccessMesoporous Pt@Pt-skin Pt3Ni core-shell framework nanowire electrocatalyst for efficient oxygen reduction
Controlling the morphology of Pt-based nanostructures can provide a great opportunity to boost their catalytic activity and durability. Here the authors report anisotropic mesoporous Pt@Pt-skin Pt3Ni core-shell framework nanowires for oxygen reduction reaction with enhanced mass activity and stability.
- Hui Jin
- , Zhewei Xu
- & Yong Liu
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Article
| Open AccessIridium oxide nanoribbons with metastable monoclinic phase for highly efficient electrocatalytic oxygen evolution
Well-defined metastable phase nanostructures are a core issue for catalyst design. Here, the authors report metastable monoclinic phase IrO2 nanoribbons obtained via a molten-alkali mechanochemical method, which exhibit intrinsic high performance towards the acidic oxygen evolution reaction.
- Fan Liao
- , Kui Yin
- & Qi Shao
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Article
| Open AccessLarge area polymer semiconductor sub-microwire arrays by coaxial focused electrohydrodynamic jet printing for high-performance OFETs
Here, the authors fabricate large area and highly aligned polymer semiconductor sub-microwires arrays via coaxial focused electrohydrodynamic jet printing technology, achieving high on/off ratio and average mobility that is 5x higher than that of thin film based organic field effect transistors.
- Dazhi Wang
- , Liangkun Lu
- & Yunqi Liu
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Article
| Open AccessControlled filamentation instability as a scalable fabrication approach to flexible metamaterials
The simple and scalable fabrication of high aspect ratio encapsulated flexible nanowire arrays with controlled size and periodicity is demonstrated and modelled, enabling nanophotonics applications requiring long-range order over several meters.
- William Esposito
- , Louis Martin-Monier
- & Fabien Sorin
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Article
| Open AccessFlying electron spin control gates
Spin qubits are a platform for quantum computing. There are many advantages for quantum information processing if the spin qubit can move. Here, Helgers et al. use a surface acoustic wave to define a moving quantum dot and demonstrate the magneticfield-free control of the spin precession, bringing “flying” spin qubits a step closer.
- Paul L. J. Helgers
- , James A. H. Stotz
- & Paulo V. Santos
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Article
| Open AccessElectron-phonon coupling and vibrational properties of size-selected linear carbon chains by resonance Raman scattering
H-capped polyynes are the simplest system to observe finite-length effects in carbyne. Here, the authors exploit synchrotron-based UV resonance Raman spectroscopy to explain a peculiar intensity behavior of multiple phonons scattering and show a size-dependent electron-phonon coupling.
- P. Marabotti
- , M. Tommasini
- & C. S. Casari
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Article
| Open AccessSub-nanometer mapping of strain-induced band structure variations in planar nanowire core-shell heterostructures
Planar growth of nanowire arrays involves interactions between materials that affect the electronic behavior of the effective heterojunction. Here, authors show how core curvature and cross-section morphology affect shell growth, demonstrating how strain at the core-shell interface induces electronic band modulations in ZnSe@ZnTe nanowires.
- Sara Martí-Sánchez
- , Marc Botifoll
- & Jordi Arbiol
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Article
| Open AccessCatalyst-free synthesis of sub-5 nm silicon nanowire arrays with massive lattice contraction and wide bandgap
The preparation of quantum silicon nanowires, materials with potential application in high-performance nanodevices, is challenging. Here, the authors synthesize vertically aligned sub-5 nm silicon nanowires via a vapor phase silicon etching process; the resulting material features unusual lattice reduction and significant phonon and electronic confinement effects.
- Sen Gao
- , Sanghyun Hong
- & Yung Joon Jung
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Article
| Open AccessLattice-mismatch-free growth of organic heterostructure nanowires from cocrystals to alloys
The large-scale synthesis of organic heterostructure nanowires is challenging. Here, the authors report the synthesis of organic triblock nanowires via a lattice mismatch-free strategy.
- Qiang Lv
- , Xue-Dong Wang
- & Liang-Sheng Liao
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Article
| Open AccessUnderstanding the rheology of nanocontacts
The rigidity of solid nanocontacts formed when metals touch is apparently lost liquidlike under large mechanical oscillations. As we show theoretically, there is no melting but oscillated nanocontacts undergo a remarkable reversible stick-slip rheology.
- Ali Khosravi
- , Antoine Lainé
- & Erio Tosatti
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Article
| Open AccessMacro- and atomic-scale observations of a one-dimensional heterojunction in a nickel and palladium nanowire complex
Low-dimensional heterojunctions are interesting for fundamental studies and applications, but their demonstrations have been limited to planar structures. Here the authors report synthesis and macro- and atomic scale characterization of a one-dimensional heterojunction formed by halogen-bridged metal-organic nanowires.
- Masanori Wakizaka
- , Shohei Kumagai
- & Shinya Takaishi
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| Open AccessCarbon-coated MoS1.5Te0.5 nanocables for efficient sodium-ion storage in non-aqueous dual-ion batteries
Sodium-based dual-ion batteries are promising electrochemical energy storage devices. Here, the authors report a source-template synthetic strategy to prepare carbon-coated MoS1.5Te0.5 nanocables and their use as anode active materials in Na-based dual ion cells.
- Yangjie Liu
- , Xiang Hu
- & Zhenhai Wen
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Article
| Open Access6 nm super-resolution optical transmission and scattering spectroscopic imaging of carbon nanotubes using a nanometer-scale white light source
The authors present a super-resolution hyperspectral imaging technique using a nanoscale white light source generated by superfocusing light from a tungsten-halogen lamp. They achieve 6 nm resolution, measuring longitudinal and transverse optical electronic transitions in single-walled carbon nanotubes.
- Xuezhi Ma
- , Qiushi Liu
- & Ming Liu
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Article
| Open AccessHigh electron mobility in strained GaAs nanowires
Semiconductor nanowires are promising candidates for the realization of novel transistor concepts. Here, the authors demonstrate that electron mobility in strained coaxial nanowire heterostructures can be higher than in the corresponding bulk crystals.
- Leila Balaghi
- , Si Shan
- & Emmanouil Dimakis
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Article
| Open AccessFocusing the electromagnetic field to 10−6λ for ultra-high enhancement of field-matter interaction
Subwavelength focusing of electromagnetic fields often uses evanescent waves and nanostructures to aid confinement. Here, the authors localize a microwave field to 6 orders of magnitude smaller than the wavelength, by coupling to confined electron oscillations in a hybrid nanowire-bowtie antenna.
- Xiang-Dong Chen
- , En-Hui Wang
- & Fang-Wen Sun
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Article
| Open AccessSubnanometer high-entropy alloy nanowires enable remarkable hydrogen oxidation catalysis
High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have attracted increasing attention in diverse field. Here, the authors report PtRuNiCoFeMo HEA with enhanced activity, stability and preferable CO anti-poisoning in alkaline hydrogen oxidation reaction.
- Changhong Zhan
- , Yong Xu
- & Xiaoqing Huang
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Article
| Open AccessSelf-selective formation of ordered 1D and 2D GaBi structures on wurtzite GaAs nanowire surfaces
Site-selected crystal material synthesis at the atomic scale has been a long-standing challenge. Here the authors use nanowire crystal phase heterostructures as templates for self-selective growth of one- and two-dimensional GaBi nanostructures, which allows versatile design with atomic-scale precision.
- Yi Liu
- , Johan V. Knutsson
- & Rainer Timm
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Article
| Open AccessAtomistic processes of surface-diffusion-induced abnormal softening in nanoscale metallic crystals
As the sample size goes down to the nanoscale, the surface-related mechanism plays an important role in the deformation of nanoscale crystals. Here, the authors report breakdown of the traditional Hall-Petch-like relation in nanoscale Ag attributed to diffusion-involved nucleation behaviors.
- Xiang Wang
- , Sixue Zheng
- & Scott X. Mao
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Article
| Open AccessShadow-wall lithography of ballistic superconductor–semiconductor quantum devices
Advanced fabrication techniques enable a wide range of quantum devices, such as the realization of a topological qubit. Here, the authors introduce an on-chip fabrication technique based on shadow walls to implement topological qubits in an InSb nanowire without fabrication steps such as lithography and etching.
- Sebastian Heedt
- , Marina Quintero-Pérez
- & Leo P. Kouwenhoven
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Article
| Open AccessTailoring atomic diffusion for in situ fabrication of different heterostructures
Atomic diffusion is a powerful tool for the synthesis of heterostructures, even though controlled atomic diffusion is difficult to achieve. Here, the authors control solid-solid atomic diffusion between an Ag nanowire and a Te nanowire, producing 1D heterostructures by applying an electrical bias inside a TEM.
- Hui Zhang
- , Tao Xu
- & Litao Sun
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Article
| Open AccessPhase management in single-crystalline vanadium dioxide beams
Control of the phases associated with the metal-insulator transition in VO2 underpins its applications as a phase change material. Here, the authors report phase management by means of oxide inhibitor-assisted growth and present high-performance VO2 actuators based on asymmetric phase transition routes.
- Run Shi
- , Yong Chen
- & Chun Cheng
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Article
| Open AccessAvalanches and edge-of-chaos learning in neuromorphic nanowire networks
Neuromorphic nanowire networks are found to exhibit neural-like dynamics, including phase transitions and avalanche criticality. Hochstetter and Kuncic et al. show that the dynamical state at the edge-of-chaos is optimal for learning and favours computationally complex information processing tasks.
- Joel Hochstetter
- , Ruomin Zhu
- & Zdenka Kuncic
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Article
| Open AccessUbiquitous organic molecule-based free-standing nanowires with ultra-high aspect ratios
Extension of nanostructure fabrication in the single-nm regime is a promising but fabrication of nanostructures with high aspect ratios remains challenging. Here, the authors use high energy charged particles to produce free-standing 1D organic nanostructures with extremely high aspect ratios and controlled number density.
- Koshi Kamiya
- , Kazuto Kayama
- & Shu Seki
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Article
| Open AccessHigh thermoelectric figure of merit of porous Si nanowires from 300 to 700 K
Performance of Si nanowires as thermoelectrics are evaluated only from cryogenic to ambient temperatures and ZT has remained low. Here, the authors systematically optimized the synthesis method and improved the suspended microdevice platform to achieve high-performance thermoelectrics up to 700 K.
- Lin Yang
- , Daihong Huh
- & Ravi S. Prasher
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Article
| Open AccessRoom-temperature oxygen vacancy migration induced reversible phase transformation during the anelastic deformation in CuO
The effect of point defects on mechanical behaviour of materials is generally considered at high temperatures. This work reports a reversible stress-induced migration of point defects during anelastic deformation in CuO nanowires at room temperature resulting from heterogeneous strain distribution.
- Lei Li
- , Guoxujia Chen
- & Jianbo Wang
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Article
| Open AccessPolarity-dependent nonlinear optics of nanowires under electric field
Finding dipole orientation of nanostructures is a challenge. Here the authors report a method to determine the sign of the polarity of a single nanowire using electric-field-modulated second-harmonic generation from surface-guided ZnO nanowire.
- Regev Ben-Zvi
- , Omri Bar-Elli
- & Ernesto Joselevich