A method of synthesis of two-dimensional metal chalcogenide monolayers, such as WSe.sub.2 and MoSe.sub.2, is based on a chemical vapor deposition approach that uses H.sub.2Se or alkyl or aryl selenide precursors to form a reactive gas. The gaseous selenium precursor may be introduced into a tube furnace containing a metal precursor at a selected temperature, wherein the selenium and metal precursors react to form metal chalcogenide monolayers.

Provided are a method for preparing a vertical branched graphene comprising treating a pristine vertical graphene with an inert plasma in the absence of an introduced carbon source to develop a vertical branched graphene. The method may also include pre-treating a substrate surface with an inert plasma; depositing a pristine vertical graphene onto the substrate surface by contacting the substrate surface with a deposition plasma comprising a carbon source gas for a deposition period. Also provided are a vertical branched graphene attached to a substrate surface, the vertical branched graphene having a trunk portion extending from the substrate surface, said trunk possessing an increased degree of branching as the distance from the substrate surface increases; and a freestanding branched graphene with a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end comprising a trunk portion, the trunk portion possessing and increased degree of branching as the distance from the proximal end increases and the distance to the distal end decreases.

The fabrication of asymmetric monometallic nanocrystals with novel properties for plasmonics, nanophotonics and nanoelectronics. Asymmetric monometallic plasmonic nanocrystals are of both fundamental synthetic challenge and practical significance. In an example, a thiol-ligand mediated growth strategy that enables the synthesis of unprecedented Au Nanorod-Au Nanoparticle (AuNR-AuNP) dimers from pre-synthesized AuNR seeds. Using high-resolution electron microscopy and tomography, crystal structure and three-dimensional morphology of the dimer, as well as the growth pathway of the AuNP on the AuNR seed, was investigated for this example. The dimer exhibits an extraordinary broadband optical extinction spectrum spanning the UV, visible, and near infrared regions (300-1300 nm). This unexpected property makes the AuNR-AuNP dimer example useful for many nanophotonic applications. In two experiments, the dimer example was tested as a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate and a solar light harvester for photothermal conversion, in comparison with the mixture of AuNR and AuNP. In the SERS experiment, the dimer example showed an enhancement factor about 10 times higher than that of the mixture, when the excitation wavelength (660 nm) was off the two surface plasmon resonance (SPR) bands of the mixture. In the photothermal conversion experiment under simulated sunlight illumination, the dimer example exhibited an energy conversion efficiency about 1.4 times as high as that of the mixture.

The fabrication of asymmetric monometallic nanocrystals with novel properties for plasmonics, nanophotonics and nanoelectronics. Asymmetric monometallic plasmonic nanocrystals are of both fundamental synthetic challenge and practical significance. In an example, a thiol-ligand mediated growth strategy that enables the synthesis of unprecedented Au Nanorod-Au Nanoparticle (AuNR-AuNP) dimers from pre-synthesized AuNR seeds. Using high-resolution electron microscopy and tomography, crystal structure and three-dimensional morphology of the dimer, as well as the growth pathway of the AuNP on the AuNR seed, was investigated for this example. The dimer exhibits an extraordinary broadband optical extinction spectrum spanning the UV, visible, and near infrared regions (300-1300 nm). This unexpected property makes the AuNR-AuNP dimer example useful for many nanophotonic applications. In two experiments, the dimer example was tested as a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate and a solar light harvester for photothermal conversion, in comparison with the mixture of AuNR and AuNP. In the SERS experiment, the dimer example showed an enhancement factor about 10 times higher than that of the mixture, when the excitation wavelength (660 nm) was off the two surface plasmon resonance (SPR) bands of the mixture. In the photothermal conversion experiment under simulated sunlight illumination, the dimer example exhibited an energy conversion efficiency about 1.4 times as high as that of the mixture.

Provided is a manufacturing method of indium oxide nanorods, including the following steps: providing a temperature furnace divided into a first zone and a second zone; putting an indium metal source in the first zone and putting a substrate in the second zone; modulating a temperature of the first zone to a first temperature and modulating a temperature of the second zone to a second temperature, wherein the first temperature is higher than the second temperature; and inputting argon and oxygen into the temperature furnace when the temperature of the first zone reaches the first temperature and the temperature of the second zone reaches the second temperature, wherein a ratio of argon and oxygen is in a range of 30:1 to 70:1 such that a plurality of indium oxide nanorods are formed on the substrate. An indium oxide nanorod is also provided.

Provided is a manufacturing method of indium oxide nanorods, including the following steps: providing a temperature furnace divided into a first zone and a second zone; putting an indium metal source in the first zone and putting a substrate in the second zone; modulating a temperature of the first zone to a first temperature and modulating a temperature of the second zone to a second temperature, wherein the first temperature is higher than the second temperature; and inputting argon and oxygen into the temperature furnace when the temperature of the first zone reaches the first temperature and the temperature of the second zone reaches the second temperature, wherein a ratio of argon and oxygen is in a range of 30:1 to 70:1 such that a plurality of indium oxide nanorods are formed on the substrate. An indium oxide nanorod is also provided.

A nanocrystal capable of light emission includes a nanoparticle having photoluminescence having quantum yields of greater than 30%.

A nanocrystal capable of light emission includes a nanoparticle having photoluminescence having quantum yields of greater than 30%.

Efficiency of producing polycrystalline silicon is improved. A silicon filament (11) is constituted by a rod-shaped member made of polycrystalline silicon. The polycrystalline silicon has an interstitial oxygen concentration of not less than 10 ppma and not more than 40 ppma. On a side surface, in a lengthwise direction, of the rod-shaped member, crystal grains each having a crystal grain size of not less than 1 mm are observed.

Disclosed are an apparatus for layer control-based synthesis and a method of using the same.