Patent ID: 9034668
Filing Date: 2015-05-19
Classification: B22F,B82Y,H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A device for forming, on a nanowire comprising a semiconductor, an alloy of the semiconductor with a metal or metalloid, said device comprising: (a) a first electrically conducting strip comprising a metal or metalloid capable of forming an alloy with the semiconductor of the nanowire, and a second electrically conducting strip comprising a metal or metalloid capable of forming an alloy with the semiconductor of the nanowire, the first electrically conducting strip and the second electrically conducting strip spaced apart from each other; the first electrically conducting strip forming a narrowed portion of a first electrically conducting line and the second electrically conducting strip forming a narrowed portion of a second electrically conducting line, and each of the first electrically conducting line and the second electrically conducting line comprising a first end and a second end; wherein a central portion of the first electrically conducting strip is capable of being placed into contact with a first area of the surface of the nanowire and a central portion of the second electrically conducting strip is capable of being placed into contact with a second area of the surface of the nanowire, said second area spaced apart from the first area in the direction of the length of the nanowire; (b) a first generator for applying a potential difference between the first end of the first electrically conducting line and the second end of the first electrically conducting line and for making a current pass from the first end of the first electrically conducting line to the second end of the first electrically conducting line; and a first connector comprising a first resistor R connecting the second end of the second electrically conducting line to ground; (c) optionally, a second generator for applying a potential difference between the first end of the second electrically conducting line and the second end of the second electrically conducting line when no potential difference is applied between the first end of the first electrically conducting line and the second end of the first electrically conducing line, and for making a current pass from the first end of the second electrically conducting line to the second end of the second electrically conducting line; and a second connector comprising a second resistor R′ connecting the second end of the first electrically conducting line to ground; (d) a measuring device for measuring a first leakage potential difference on both sides of the first resistor R; (e) optionally, when the second generator of (c) is present, a measuring device for measuring a second leakage potential difference on both sides of the second resistor R′; (f) a third generator for applying a first bias potential difference between the first area of the surface of the nanowire and the second area of the surface of the nanowire, in the direction of the length of the nanowire; (g) optionally, when the first bias potential difference is not applied, a fourth generator for applying a second bias potential difference between the second area of the surface of the nanowire and the first area of the surface of the nanowire, in the direction of the length of the nanowire.