Gallium-assisted growth of flute-like MgO nanotubes, Ga2O3-filled MgO nanotubes, and MgO/Ga2O3 co-axial nanotubes.
Flute-like MgO nanotubes were successfully synthesized via a simple thermal evaporation method by using Mg(3)N(2) and Ga(2)O(3) as the source materials. The nanotubes are single-crystal cubic MgO, and have [100] orientation. In contrast to conventional nanotubes with intact walls, the flute-like MgO nanotubes possess a unique porous structure. On the nanotubes there are series of holes aligned along the nanotube length with approximate equidistance. Ga(2)O(3)-filled MgO nanotubes and MgO/Ga(2)O(3) co-axial nanotubes were also found in the product. Further investigation confirms that the inner beta-Ga(2)O(3) has an epitaxial growth relation with the outer MgO nanotube due to their perfect lattice matching. A gallium-assisted growth mechanism was proposed to interpret the growth of the flute-like MgO nanotubes. The thermal expansion and evaporation of the filled liquid gallium in MgO nanotubes are likely responsible for the formation of the hole structures on the side walls.
Department of Applied Physics, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui 230009, People's Republic of China. jason.jsjie@gmail.com
Jiansheng
J
Jie
Chunyan
C
Wu
Yongqiang
Y
Yu
Li
L
Wang
Zhizhong
Z
Hu