title: Formation of piezoelectric single-crystal nanorings and nanobows.
abstract: Bending of polar-surface-dominated (PSD) nanobelts of ZnO can be explained by one of two processes: electrostatic neutralization of the dipole moment via deformation (called an electrostatic polar charge model) or imbalances between surface tensions via surface-termination induced stresses. This article presents experimental data on the structural features of nanorings and nanobows formed by bending single-crystal, PSD ZnO nanobelts. Our data exclusively support the electrostatic polar charge model as the dominant mechanism for bending.
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering and School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0245, USA.
authors.forename: William L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Zhong L
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Wang