The Dielectrophoretically Guided Growth of Submicron, Near Single Crystal Indium Wires*

Dielectrophoresis was used to direct the growth of crystalline indium wires between lithographic electrodes immersed in solutions of indium acetate. Determination of the conditions that suppress side branching on these structures has enabled the fabrication of arbitrarily long needle-shaped wires with diameters between 367nm and 556nm. Electron diffraction studies indicate that these wires are crystalline indium, that the unbranched wire segments are single-crystal domains, and that the predominant growth-direction is near $\langle $110$\rangle $. This outcome constitutes a critical step towards the use of simply prepared aqueous mixtures as a convenient means of controlling the composition of submicron, crystalline wires.