I.Introduction

1.Nanostructures

Definition: material systems with length scale of ~ 1-100 nm in at least one dimension.

Classification:

  • 2-D: quantum wells, atomic layers
  • 1-D: quantum wires, nanowires
  • 0-D: quantum dots, macro-molecules

Mesoscopic structures: Between individual atoms/molecules and macroscopic bulk materials.

Two approaches: bottom-up and top-down
Top-down approach:Bulk crystals cutting, micro-machining
Bottom-up approach:Atoms

Integrated circuits: various layers of semiconductor, insulators and metal interconnects

Unique Properties of Nanostructures:

  • Compact desity, high speed and efficiency
  • Quantum confinement:quantization and reducecd
  • dimensionality of electroic states
  • Quantum coherence
  • Surface/interface states
  • Meta-stable phases,adjustable atomic structure, size and shape - lead to properties tunable
  • Various functionalities from same material

2.Summary for nanommaterials

  • Special properties quite different from bulks
  • Unique and novel functions
  • Sensitive
  • Plenty room at the bottom

II.Quantum mechanics of low-D systems

1.basis

Time-independent Schrödinger equation:

h22m2ψ(r)+V(r)ψ(r)=Eψ(r)-\frac{\mathrm{h}^2}{2 m} \nabla^2 \psi(\boldsymbol{r})+V(\boldsymbol{r}) \psi(\boldsymbol{r})=E \psi(\boldsymbol{r})

Free particle [with V(r)=0V(r)=0 ], plane wave:

Ψ(r,t)=Aexp(ikriEt/)\Psi(\boldsymbol{r}, t)=A \exp (i \mathbf{k} \cdot \boldsymbol{r}-i E t / \hbar)

Energy and momentum of the particle:

E=ω=2k2/(2m)=2(kx2+ky2+kz2)/(2m)=ε(k)p=k\begin{aligned} & E=\hbar \omega=\hbar^2 k^2 /(2m)=\hbar^2\left(k_x^2+k_y^2+k_z^2\right) /(2m)=\varepsilon(k) \\ & \boldsymbol{p}=\hbar \boldsymbol{k} \end{aligned}

de Broglie wavelength: λ=h/p\lambda=h / p
Probability of finding the particle at r\boldsymbol{r} : P(r,t)=Ψ(r,t)2\mathrm{P}(\boldsymbol{r}, t)=|\Psi(\boldsymbol{r}, t)|^2

For a free particle, the probability is the same everywhe

1D potential well of infinite depth:

V(x)={0, if 0xa, otherwise V(x)= \begin{cases}0, & \text { if } 0 \leq \mathrm{x} \leq \mathrm{a} \\ \infty, & \text { otherwise }\end{cases}

ψn(x)={Ansin(nπax), for 0xa0, otherwise εn=h2kn22m=h2π2n22ma2=ε(kn)\psi_n(x)=\left\{\begin{array}{ll}A_{\mathrm{n}} \sin \left(\frac{n \pi}{a} \mathrm{x}\right), & \text { for } 0 \leq \mathrm{x} \leq \mathrm{a} \\ 0, & \text { otherwise }\end{array} \quad \varepsilon_n=\frac{\mathrm{h}^2 k_n^2}{2 m}=\frac{\mathrm{h}^2 \pi^2 n^2}{2 m a^2}=\varepsilon\left(k_n\right)\right.
Discrete energy levels, with n=1,2,3\mathrm{n}=1,2,3 \ldots

Ground-state ( n=1\mathrm{n}=1 ) energy =h2/(8 ma2)=\mathrm{h}^2 /\left(8 \mathrm{~m} a^2\right), zero-point or confinement energy

Potential wells of finite depth:

V(x)={V0 for a/2xa/20 otherwise V(x)=\left\{\begin{array}{cc} -\mathrm{V}_0 & \text { for }-a / 2 \leq \mathrm{x} \leq \mathrm{a} / 2 \\ 0 & \text { otherwise } \end{array}\right.

For E<0E < 0 , only a certain number of E values are allowed. The particle remains confined, but not completely within the well.

For E>0E > 0, any values are allowed, the probability of finding particle does not approach zero away from the
well: The particle is free

Contribution to electric conductivity: Confind(localized) states are insulating, free states are conductive

Quantum well: particle confined by a 1-D potential well, but free in other 2-D, quantum states labeled by n,kxn, k_x and kyk_y :

ε(n,kx,ky)=h22m(π2n2a2+kx2+ky2) Each n represents a branch or subband \begin{aligned} &\varepsilon\left(n, k_x, k_y\right)=\frac{\mathrm{h}^2}{2 m}\left(\frac{\pi^2 n^2}{a^2}+k_x^2+k_y^2\right)\\ &\text { Each } n \text { represents a branch or subband } \end{aligned}

Quantum wire: particle confined by 2-D potential wells, free only in 1-D (1-D free particle), quantum states labeled by n1,n2n_1, n_2 and kzk_z :

ε(n1,n2,kz)=h22m(π2n12a2+π2n22b2+kz2)\varepsilon\left(n_1, n_2, k_z\right)=\frac{h^2}{2 m}\left(\frac{\pi^2 n_1^2}{a^2}+\frac{\pi^2 n_2^2}{b^2}+k_z^2\right)

Quantum dot: particle confined by potential wells in 3-D, quantum states labeled n1,n2n_1, n_2 and n3n_3 :

ε(n1,n2,n3)=h2π22m(n12a2+n22b2+n32c2)\varepsilon\left(n_1, n_2, n_3\right)=\frac{h^2 \pi^2}{2 m}\left(\frac{n_1^2}{a^2}+\frac{n_2^2}{b^2}+\frac{n_3^2}{c^2}\right)

Count states in k-space: Allowed states are separated by a spacing 2π/L2\pi/L

DOS in kk-space N(k):N1D(k)δk=2L2πδkN(k): \quad N_{1 D}(k) \delta k=2 \frac{L}{2 \pi} \delta k \quad (2-fold spin degeneracy)

For a unit length: n1D(k)=N1D(k)/L=1/πn_{1 \mathrm{D}}(k)=N_{1 \mathrm{D}}(k) / L=1 / \pi, Independent of LL

n1D(E)=2n1D(k)/(dε/dk)=2π/(h2km)=1π h2mEn1D(E) diverges as E12 when E0, van Hove singularity \begin{aligned} &n_{1 \mathrm{D}}(E)=2 n_{1 \mathrm{D}}(k) /(d \varepsilon / d k)=\frac{2}{\pi} /\left(\frac{\mathrm{h}^2 k}{m}\right)=\frac{1}{\pi \mathrm{~h}} \sqrt{\frac{2 m}{E}}\\ &n_{1 D}(E) \text { diverges as } E^{-\frac{1}{2}} \text { when } E \rightarrow 0 \text {, van Hove singularity } \end{aligned}

n2D(E)=mπh2n_{2 \mathrm{D}}(E)=\frac{m}{\pi h^2}

n3D(E)=mπ2 h32mEn_{3 \mathrm{D}}(E)=\frac{m}{\pi^2 \mathrm{~h}^3} \sqrt{2 m E}

Distributions of Electrons in Energy Space
Density of States (DOS)

DOS for a 3-D system: n3D(E)=mπ2 h32mE\quad n_{3 \mathrm{D}}(E)=\frac{m}{\pi^2 \mathrm{~h}^3} \sqrt{2 m E}
DOS for a 2-D system: n2D(E)=mπ h2\quad n_{2 \mathrm{D}}(E)=\frac{m}{\pi \mathrm{~h}^2} \quad It is a constant!
DOS for a 1-D system: n1D(E)=1π h2mE\quad n_{1 \mathrm{D}}(E)=\frac{1}{\pi \mathrm{~h}} \sqrt{\frac{2 m}{E}} \quad Diverge as E0\mathrm{E} \rightarrow 0

Quantum tunneling: A particle can be reflected by or tunnel through a barrier of V0>EV_0>E

Define:

k2mE/κ2m(V0E)/\begin{gathered} k \equiv \sqrt{2 m E} / \hbar \\ \kappa \equiv \sqrt{2 m\left(V_0-E\right)} / \hbar \end{gathered}

Tunneling probability: Texp[2 hab2m(V(x)E)dx]\quad T \sim \exp \left[-\frac{2}{\mathrm{~h}} \int_a^b \sqrt{2 m(V(x)-E)} d x\right]

For a thick or tall barrier, κa1\kappa a \gg 1

T16k2κ2(k2+κ2)2exp(2κa)=16E(V0E)V02exp[2a h2m(V0E)]T \approx \frac{16 k^2 \kappa^2}{\left(k^2+\kappa^2\right)^2} \exp (-2 \kappa a)=\frac{16 E\left(V_0-E\right)}{V_0^2} \exp \left[-\frac{2 a}{\mathrm{~h}} \sqrt{2 m\left(V_0-E\right)}\right]

III.Reviews of Solid-State & Surface Physics

1.Bloch wave function

Electronic states in a perfect crystal: Bloch wave function

ψk(x)=uk(x)exp(ikx)=exp(ikx)u(k) with: uk(x+a)=uk(x)\psi_k(x)=u_k(x) \exp (i k x)=\exp (i k x)|u(k)\rangle \quad \text { with: } \quad u_k(x+a)=u_k(x)

Periodically modulated plane wave, hk=\mathrm{h} \boldsymbol{k}= crystal momentum
ψk(x)&E(k)\psi_k(x) \& E(k) is also periodic in kk, the period is 2π/a2 \pi / a

ε(k+Gn)=ε(k) where Gn=2πn/a\varepsilon\left(k+G_n\right)=\varepsilon(k) \quad \text { where } \quad G_n=2 \pi n / a

Effect of periodic potential is most dramatic on states of k=Gn/2k = G_n/2 (the boundaries of Brillouin zones): It opens energy bandgaps separating allowed energy bands.

2.Velocity, Force & Mass (in 1D lattice)

Group velocity (in real space):

vg(k)=()1dε/dkv_g(k)=(\hbar)^{-1} d \varepsilon / d k

Movement in k-space under applied force FF :

dk/dt=F, or dk/dt=F/\hbar d k / d t=F, \text { or } \quad d k / d t=F / \hbar

Acceleration of electron (in real space):

dvgdt=1d2εdkdt=1d2εdk2dkdt=12d2εdk2F=Fm\frac{d v_g}{d t}=\frac{1}{\hbar} \frac{d^2 \varepsilon}{d k d t}=\frac{1}{\hbar} \frac{d^2 \varepsilon}{d k^2} \frac{d k}{d t}=\frac{1}{\hbar^2} \frac{d^2 \varepsilon}{d k^2} F=\frac{F}{m^*}

Effective mass of electrons mm^* :

m(k)=(dvg/dk)1=2(d2ε/dk2)1m^*(k)=\hbar\left(d v_g / d k\right)^{-1}=\hbar^2\left(d^2 \varepsilon / d k^2\right)^{-1}

In some cases, mm^* can be negative, 0 or \rightarrow \infty ! DOS (per unit length):

n(E)=2π(dε/dk)1n(E)=\frac{2}{\pi}(d \varepsilon / d k)^{-1}

Movement in k-space under applied force FF :

dk/dt=F\hbar^{d \boldsymbol{k}} /{ }_{d t}=\boldsymbol{F}

In EM fields: dk/dt=e(E+r˙×B)\quad \hbar^{d \boldsymbol{k}} /{ }_{d t}=-e(\boldsymbol{E}+\dot{\boldsymbol{r}} \times \boldsymbol{B})

Group velocity (in real space):

v(k)=r˙c=1kε(k)\boldsymbol{v}(\boldsymbol{k})=\dot{\boldsymbol{r}}_{\boldsymbol{c}}=\frac{1}{\hbar} \nabla_k \varepsilon(\boldsymbol{k})

DOS (per unit volume):

n(ε)=k2π2(dεdk)1n(\varepsilon)=\frac{k^2}{\pi^2}\left(\frac{d \varepsilon}{d k}\right)^{-1}

Rate of group velocity change:

dvg/dt=(M)1Fd \boldsymbol{v}_g /_{d t}=(\boldsymbol{M})^{-1} \boldsymbol{F}

Inverse Mass Tensor M1\mathbf{M}^{\mathbf{- 1}} :

Mij1=2d2ε/dkidkjM_{i j}^{-1}=\hbar^{-2} d^2 \varepsilon / d k_i d k_j

Si: m/m0=0.98m^* / m_0=0.98, GaAs: m/m0=0.067m^* / m_0=0.067

3-D crystals: unit cells identified by 3 primitive vectors a1,a2,a3\boldsymbol{a}_1, \boldsymbol{a}_2, \boldsymbol{a}_3
Reciprocal space ( k\boldsymbol{k}-space): reciprocal lattice vector G\boldsymbol{G}
Reciprocal primitive vectors: b1,b2,b3\boldsymbol{b}_1, \boldsymbol{b}_2, \boldsymbol{b}_3

 where b1=2πa2×a3a1(a2×a3)\text { where } \quad b_1=2 \pi \frac{a_2 \times a_3}{a_1 \bullet\left(a_2 \times a_3\right)}

There are 7 crystal systems and 14 lattice types in 3-D.

3.Electric current in solid: two types of carriers

Electrons: electrons in conduction band of density nn
Holes: empty states in valence band of density pp

Carrier mobility: v=μE,v=\mu \boldsymbol{E}, \quad and μ=eτm\quad \mu=\frac{e \tau}{m^*}
Conductivity: σ=e(nμn+pμp)\quad \sigma=e\left(n \mu_n+p \mu_p\right)

Total current density: sum of drift and diffusion terms

J=enμE+eDn( assume np)\boldsymbol{J}=e n \mu \boldsymbol{E}+e D \nabla n \quad(\text { assume } n \gg p)

Einstein relation:

μ=eDkBT\mu=\frac{e D}{k_B T}

4.Carrier type, density & mobility

determined in Hall measurements

Longitudinal conductance:

Jx=σEx=e(nμe+pμh)Ex\boldsymbol{J}_{\boldsymbol{x}}=\boldsymbol{\sigma} \boldsymbol{E}_{\boldsymbol{x}}=e\left(n \mu_{\mathrm{e}}+p \mu_{\mathrm{h}}\right) \boldsymbol{E}_{\boldsymbol{x}}

Longitudinal resistivity: ρ=1/σ\rho=1 / \sigma

The Hall coefficient:

RH=EyJxB=pμh2nμe2e(pμh+nμe)2R_H=\frac{E_y}{J_x B}=\frac{p \mu_h^2-n \mu_e^2}{e\left(p \mu_h+n \mu_e\right)^2}

If electron is the dominant carrier in the material, then we have:

ρ=1/σ=(enμe)1, and RH=1ne\rho=1 / \sigma=\left(e n \mu_{\mathrm{e}}\right)^{-1}, \text { and } R_H=-\frac{1}{n e}

Carrier density: n=(eRH)1n=-\left(e R_{\mathrm{H}}\right)^{-1}, and the mobility: μe=RH/ρ\mu_{\mathrm{e}}=-R_{\mathrm{H}} / \rho

Excitons: electron and hole bound together like a hydrogen atom, Hamiltonian of exciton

H=h22 mee2h22 mhh2+V(re)+V(rh)e24πε0εrrerh\mathrm{H}=-\frac{\mathrm{h}^2}{2 \mathrm{~m}_{\mathrm{e}}^*} \nabla_{\mathrm{e}}^2-\frac{\mathrm{h}^2}{2 \mathrm{~m}_{\mathrm{h}}^*} \nabla_{\mathrm{h}}^2+\mathrm{V}\left(\mathrm{r}_{\mathrm{e}}\right)+\mathrm{V}\left(\mathrm{r}_{\mathrm{h}}\right)-\frac{\mathrm{e}^2}{4 \pi \varepsilon_0 \varepsilon_{\mathrm{r}}\left|\mathrm{r}_{\mathrm{e}}-\mathrm{r}_{\mathrm{h}}\right|}

Exciton energy:

E=Eg+h2 K22M13.6μn2 m0εr2(eV)E=E_g+\frac{\mathrm{h}^2 \mathrm{~K}^2}{2 M}-13.6 \frac{\mu}{\mathrm{n}^2 \mathrm{~m}_0 \varepsilon_r^2}(\mathrm{eV})

where EgE_{\mathrm{g}} is bandgap energy, n=1,2,3n=1,2,3 \ldots;

M=me+mh total mass; K center of mass momentum; μ=memh/(me+mh) reduced mass; \begin{aligned} M & =m_{\mathrm{e}} *+m_{\mathrm{h}} * \text { total mass; } \hbar \mathbf{K} \text { center of mass momentum; } \\ \mu & =m_{\mathrm{e}} * m_{\mathrm{h}} * /\left(m_{\mathrm{e}} *+m_{\mathrm{h}} *\right) \text { reduced mass; } \end{aligned}

the last term, without "-" sign, is the exciton binding energy.
Bohr radius of exciton:

a_B=\frac{\varepsilon_r m_0}{\mu} a_0 \quad\left(a_0=0.529 \AA\right)

For semiconductors, aBa_B is in a few nm to a few 10nm10-\mathrm{nm}

Excitons in 2D materials

E(2D)=Eg13.6μ(n1/2)2 m0εr2(eV)n=1,2,3,E^{(2 D)}=E_g-13.6 \frac{\mu}{(\mathrm{n}-1 / 2)^2 \mathrm{~m}_0 \varepsilon_r^2}(\mathrm{eV}) \quad n=1,2,3, \ldots

Binding energy of excitons:

Eb(2D)=54μ m0εr2(eV)E_b^{(2 D)}=54 \frac{\mu}{\mathrm{~m}_0 \varepsilon_r^2}(\mathrm{eV})

The relative dielectric constant of a 2D semiconductor is much less than the value of its 3D bulk.

For example, for monolayer MoS2,εr4.2\mathrm{MoS}_2, \varepsilon_{\mathrm{r}} \approx 4.2, whereas for 3D MoS2\mathrm{MoS}_2 bulk it is about 14.

Consequently, the exciton binding energy in a 2D semiconductor can be quite large.
For 2D MoS2,Eb1eV\mathrm{MoS}_2, E_{\mathrm{b}} \sim 1 \mathrm{eV}, while Eb0.1eVE_{\mathrm{b}} \sim 0.1 \mathrm{eV} in 3D bulk.