Anti-reflective and hydrophobic surface of self-organized GaN nano-flowers

• Published in: Applied surface science 2011-09, Vol.257 (22), p.9612-9615
• Main Authors: Dhamodaran, S., Chander, D. Sathish, Ramkumar, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-reflective; Chemical vapor deposition; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Contact angle; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Droplets; Exact sciences and technology; Gallium nitrides; GaN; Hydrophobic; Nano-flowers; Nanocomposites; Nanomaterials; Nanostructure; Physics; Reflectivity
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2011.06.080

► Self-assembled GaN nano-flowers growth using a simple CVD reactor is reported. ► Catalysis-free GaN nano-flowers using CVD is not reported elsewhere. ► Reflectance as low as 5% in comparison to 25% from GaN templates has been recorded. ► Hydrophobic surface with 145° contact angle useful for nano-fluidic devices. GaN nano flowers were grown on various commercial substrates by a simple catalyst free chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique. The size and shape of the nanostructures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The influence of the substrate, growth temperature, and ammonia flow rate on the size and shape of the nano-flowers were investigated along with their anti-reflective and hydrophobic properties. The normal incident reflectivity measurements carried out on the nano structures showed very low (5%) reflectivity. The wettability of the surface investigated by the static contact angle of water droplet revealed their hydrophobic nature with a large contact angle of about 145°. These results on catalysis-free nanostructures would be useful for anti-reflective surfaces/coatings in solar cell applications.