Spontaneous compositional nanopatterning in Li-containing perovskite oxides.
A structure designed to show functionality on the nanometer length scale ideally would spontaneously form periodic nanometer-scale patterns comprising regions with contrasting properties. Here we report the synthesis of three new oxides that spontaneously form a variety of nanostructures with a periodic arrangement of phases with compositional and functional contrast. This is achieved through the partial substitution of Ti by Al, Cr, and Mn in periodically phase-separated (Nd(2/3-x)Li(3x))TiO(3) nanochessboard structures. The generality of this spontaneous compositional nanopatterning is promising for an array of exotic bulk and nanostructural properties.
Guiton
Beth S
BS
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 3231 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
Davies
Peter K
PK