Epitaxially driven formation of intricate supported gold nanostructures on a lattice-matched oxide substrate.
A new class of gold nanostructures has been fabricated on the (100), (111), and (110) surfaces of lattice-matched MgAl(2)O(4) substrates. The nanostructures were fabricated through a synthesis route where a thin gold film dewets, liquefies, and then slowly self-assembles. The supported nanostructures are intricately shaped, crystalline, and epitaxially aligned. Simulations based on a continuum elastic theory indicate that the self-assembly is driven by strained epitaxy and minimization of the surface free energy.
Devenyi
Gabriel A
GA
Department of Engineering Physics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Li
Jianfeng
J
Hughes
Robert A
RA
Shi
An-Chang
AC
Mascher
Peter
P
Preston
John S
JS
D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D017616:Magnesium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties
D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D017616:Magnesium Compounds; C110424:aluminum magnesium oxide; D006046:Gold