Experimental evidence of self-limited growth of nanocrystals in glass.
Growth of nanocrystals precipitated in glasses with specific compositions can be effectively limited by diffusion barriers forming around crystallites. For the first time, we do experimentally prove this concept of self-limited growth on the nanoscale for a SiO(2)/Al(2)O(3)/Na(2)O/K(2)O/BaF(2) glass in which BaF(2) nanocrystals are formed. As shown by advanced analytical transmission electron microscopy techniques, the growth of these BaF(2) crystals, having great potential for photonic applications, is inherently limited by the formation of a ca. 1 nm wide SiO(2) shell.
Bhattacharyya
Somnath
S
Leibniz-Institut fur Oberflachenmodifizierung e.V., Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany, Otto-Schott-Institut, Universitat Jena, Fraunhoferstrasse 6, 07743 Jena, Germany.
Bocker
Christian
C
Heil
Tobias
T
Jinschek
Jörg R
JR
Höche
Thomas
T
Rüssel
Christian
C
Kohl
Helmut
H