Fabrication and visible emission of single-crystal diameter-modulated gallium phosphide nanochains

The diameter-modulated single crystalline gallium phosphide (GaP) nanochains were synthesized by a facile method within a confined reaction zone. By varying the Ga concentration in the reaction zone, the size of knots of GaP nanochains can be manipulated. These zinc-blende structured GaP nanochains with 〈111〉 axial directions possess strong visible emissions around 700 nm at room temperature, indicating their potential applications in light sources, laser or light emitting display devices.