Vapor phase synthesis of crystalline nanometer-scale GaAs clusters

Abstract

We report the synthesis of crystalline nanometer-scale GaAs clusters in the 5-10 nm size regime. The clusters are formed by the homogeneous nucleation of a nonequilibrium vapor created by the explosive vaporization of a bulk GaAs sample in an inert atmosphere. High resolution electron microscopy and diffraction show that the clusters have zincblende crystal structure and are faceted. Optical measurements on the particles are suggestive of quantum confinement effects.