Growth of GaN Nanotubes and Nanowires on Au-Ni Catalysts

Arrays of GaN nanowires (NWs) and nanotubes (NTs) have been grown by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy using a gold-nickel film as the catalyst. The simultaneous formation of both NTs and NWs in one process in the presence of various Au-Ni catalyst compositions is explained. It is established that NTs grow on solid catalyst particles, while NWs grow according to the classical vapor-liquid-solid mechanism. The optoelectronic properties of obtained NTs and NWs have been studied using photo- and cathodoluminescence techniques.