title: Strain control and spontaneous phase ordering in vertical nanocomposite heteroepitaxial thin films.
abstract: Two-phase, vertical nanocomposite heteroepitaxial films hold great promise for (multi)functional device applications. In order to achieve practical devices, a number of hurdles need to be overcome, including the creation of ordered structures (and their formation on a large scale), achieving different combinations of materials and control of strain coupling between the phases. Here we demonstrate major advances on all these fronts: remarkable spontaneously ordered structures were produced in newly predicted compositions, vertical strain was proven to dominate the strain state in films above 20 nm thickness and strain manipulation was demonstrated by selection of phases with the appropriate elastic moduli. The work opens up a new avenue for strain control in relatively thick films and also promises new forms of ordered nanostructures for multifunctional applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, Pembroke St., Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, UK. jld35@cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: Judith L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: MacManus-Driscoll
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zerrer
authors.forename: Haiyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jongsik
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fouchet
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Mark G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Blamire
authors.forename: Quanxi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jia