Structure and Magnetic Properties of (In,Mn)As Based Core-Shell Nanowires Grown on Si(111) by Molecular-Beam Epitaxy

We report the structure and magnetic properties of (In,Mn)As based core-shell nanowires grown on Si (111) by molecular-beam epitaxy. Compared to the core InAs nanowire with a flat side facet and consistent diameter, the core-shell nanowire shows a rough sidewall and an inverse tapered geometry. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy show that (In,Mn)As is formed on the side facets of InAs nanowires with a mixture of wurtzite and zinc-blende structures. Two ferromagnetic transition temperatures of (In,Mn)As from magnetic measurement data are observed: one is less than 25 K, which could be attributed to the magnetic phase with diluted Mn atoms in the InAs matrix, and the other is at ～300 K, which may originate from the undetectable secondary phases such as MnAs nanoclusters. The synthesis of (In,Mn)As based core-shell nanowires provides valuable information to exploit a new type of spintronic nano-materials.