Pyrolysis approach to the synthesis of gallium nitride nanorods

Herein we describe a pyrolysis route to the synthesis of gallium nitride (GaN) nanorods. GaN nanorods have been grown by the pyrolysis of gallium dimethylamide and ferrocene under an ammonia atmosphere. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer show that they are GaN single crystals, the sizes of which vary from 3 to 30 μm in length and 15 to 70 nm in diameter. Iron acts as an important catalyst for the GaN nanorod growth.