Preparation and properties of electrospun gallium nitride nanofibers

Gallium nitride (GaN) nanofibers have been produced using electrospinning and a precursor solution composed of gallium nitrate and a cellulose acetate solution. The electrospun fibers were thermally decomposed at 400°C under a nitrogen flow and nitridized under ammonia at 900°C. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and profilometry confirmed the production of fibers with diameters ranging from 20 to a few hundred nanometers and lengths of up to few centimeters. X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed a crystalline wurtzite structure. I-V characteristics of single nanofibers sintered for 3, 5 and 7 hours under ammonia showed increments in conductance with time of heating.