Template-free synthesis on single-crystalline InP nanotubes

A simple template-free thermal chemical route has been developed to prepare InP nanotubes with zinc blende structure by controlling the reaction temperature and flowing gas. The synthesized InP nanotubes are single-crystalline, free from defects and dislocations, and partially filled with In. The presence of metallic indium at tips of and within the synthesized InP nanotubes indicated a vapor-liquid-solid mechanism for the formation of InP nanotubes. The synthesized InP single-crystalline nanotubes grew along [(1) over bar 10] direction. The synthesized InP nanotubes have a uniform outer diameter of 50-60 nm and a wall thickness of 7-10 nm. The photoluminescence spectrum at room temperature exhibits a great shift from the bulk band gap of 1.35 eV to high energy of 1.49 eV. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.