Abstract
The use of bottom-up fabrication of nanostructures for nanotechnology inherently requires two-dimensional control of the nanostructures at a particular surface. This could in theory be achieved crystallographically with a structure whose three-dimensional unit cell has two or moretuneabledimensions on the nanometre scale. Here, we present what is to our knowledge the first example of a truly periodic two-dimensional nanometre-scale phase separation in any inorganic material, and demonstrate our ability to tune the unit-cell dimensions. As such, it represents great potential for the use of standard ceramic processing methods for nanotechnology. The phase separation occurs spontaneously in the homologous series of the perovskite-based Li-ion conductor, (Nd2/3xLi3x)TiO3, to give two phases whose dimensions both extend into the nanometre scale. This unique feature could lead to its application as a template for the assembly of nanostructures or molecular monolayers.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 586-591 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Nature Materials |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 2007 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:We thank I.-W. Chen, A. Rappe, I. Levin, J. Kikkawa and H. Wu for discussions and D. M. Yates for technical support. This work was supported by the MRSEC Program of the National Science Foundation under award # DMR05-20020. Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to B.S.G. or P.K.D. Supplementary Information accompanies this paper on www.nature.com/naturematerials.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Chemistry
- General Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Mechanics of Materials
- Mechanical Engineering