Metal/semiconductor hybrids consisting of self-assembled CdS nanoparticles on Cd nanowires

We report on the synthesis and the characterisation of metal/semiconductor hybrids consisting of self-assembled CdS nanoparticles on Cd nanowires, which are grown by thermal evaporation of the mixture of CdS and Cr. The growth of the hybrids is attributed to the decomposition of CdS at high temperature and the strain relieving that arises mainly from the lattice mismatch between Cd and CdS. Temperature dependence of zero-field resistance of single nanohybrid indicates that the as-produced Cd/CdS nanohybrid undergoes a metal-semiconductor transition as a natural consequence of hybrid from metallic Cd and semiconducting CdS. The metal/semiconductor hybrid property provides a promising basis for the development of novel nanoelectronic devices.