Patent ID: 7804157

Claim:
A device having a nanowire formed laterally between two electrodes, comprising: a substrate; an insulator layer established on at least a portion of the substrate; an electrode of a first conductivity type established at least on the insulator laver; an electrode of a second conductivity type different than the first conductivity type established at least on the insulator layer, the electrodes being electrically isolated from each other through the substrate via the insulator layer; wherein the electrode of the first conductivity type has a vertical sidewall facing a vertical sidewall of the electrode of the second conductivity type, whereby a gap is located between the two vertical sidewalls; the nanowire extending laterally between the two vertical sidewalls, the nanowire including: at least one segment of a first material and of the first conductivity type; at least one segment of a second material and of the second conductivity type, the second material being different from the first material; and a heterojunction formed between the segments; and wherein the electrode of the second conductivity type is also established on the substrate so that the electrode of the second conductivity type is electrically connected to the substrate.