Processing and characterization of GaP nanowires encapsulated into a PDMS large-scale membrane for flexible optoelectronics

This paper presents the methods of fabricating arrays of semiconductor III-V nanowires transferred into a flexible polydimethylsiloxane membrane. Molecular beam epitaxy was used to synthesize GaP nanowires. The synthesized nanowire arrays were encapsulated into a silicone membrane by a heavy load swinging-bucket centrifuge. For optoelectronic applications, the nanowire/polydimethylsiloxane membranes were contacted with single-walled carbon nanotubes, peeled from the substrate, then the second carbon nanotubes contact was formed. For optical experiments, the nanowire/polydimethylsiloxane membranes were bonded to supporting polydimethylsiloxane films by oxygen plasma treatment, and then easily released from the substrate by unsticking. The obtained membranes have a high practical potential in flexible optoelectronics.