Controlling catalyst agglomeration in high-density unordered III-V nanowire growth using Au colloid solutions

Abstract

III-V semiconductor nanowires (NWs) are a promising platform for optoelectronic and photoelectrochemical applications, where device performance strongly depends on NW density and spatial arrangement. While ordered arrays provide precise control, their fabrication requires complex and costly lithographic techniques. Unordered growth offers a scalable alternative but is limited by insufficient control over catalyst distribution and particle agglomeration. Here, we investigate the density scaling of unordered III-V NW arrays using commercially available Au colloid solutions as catalysts for NW growth via vapor-liquid-solid growth mode. Repeated deposition cycles yield a near-linear increase in particle density, which is ultimately limited by non-linear agglomeration effects not captured by simple stochastic models. To address this limitation, a previously established pre-anneal growth concept is transferred from patterned catalyst arrays to randomly deposited Au colloids, thereby suppressing thermally induced coalescence and stabilizing the catalyst distribution. This approach enables up to a tenfold increase in NW density while improving uniformity and vertical yield. The method is demonstrated for colloid diameters between 100 and 200 nm. Overall, this work provides a scalable, lithography-free route toward high-density III-V NW ensembles and offers insight into the role of particle dynamics in colloid-based growth processes.