12.3.1 Top-Down Approach
The top-down methods are popular and easy as compared to the bottom-up methods.
The most common and famous top-down process used for the fabrication of the materials
is a combination of photolithography and the dry/wet etching method. This method
is used for the synthesis of wide bandgap (WBG) semiconducting micromaterials on a
silicon substrate [20]. In addition, the electron beam lithography (EBL) or focused ion
beam (FIB) is used for the nanofabrication of WBG materials. Figure 12.3 shows lift-off
and negative mask surface nano-machining practices for the production the silicon car
bide nanowires (NWs) and their applications in the device such as nano-electrochemical
switches [26]. Another method that is similar to conventional photolithography is elec
tron beam lithography (EBL). The drawing of the pattern with sub-10 nm resolution can
be done with the help of the EBL as a top-down approach. After fabricating, the micro-
nonostructures are transferred to soft platforms using the dry transfer printing process.
12.3.2 Bottom-Up Approach
In the bottom-up approach, various materials have been grown by different techniques. A
few of them are listed in this section. The three-dimensional, meticulous graphene on
silicon nanowire mesh pattern was reported with personalized electron transfer and
absorption properties. These selected properties can be used for future applications
where it is needed like sensor, energy, and bioelectronics. The growth condition during
the synthesis of the graphene-like growth time and pressure of methane gives novel
properties to the material [27]. Sapphire substrate has been used for the synthesis of very
long self-organized GaN nano-wires with hexagonal sections. Here, the GaN was
FIGURE 12.3
(a, b) SiC nanowires (NWs) lift-off and negative mask surface nano-machining processes for making the SiC
NWs, (c) a 20 μm long SiC NW, (d) close-in view of the device, (e) typical nonmetallized SiC NWs and gaps
achieved by the negative mask process in this work. Adapted with permission [ 26]. Copyright 2010. American
Chemical Society.
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