title: Ordered coalescence of nanocrystals: a path to strong macroporous nanoceramics.
abstract: A versatile approach for integrating two apparently conflicting physical properties, high porosity and high mechanical strength, in polycrystalline bulks is established and demonstrated for the case of alumina ceramics. Macroporous alumina nanoceramics are synthesized by stimulating coalescence-mediated necking, which enables the formation of strong crystallographically coherent necks between adjacent grains. The work places a general emphasis on manipulating crystal growth on the nanoscale and on preparing highly porous polycrystalline bulk ceramics with improved mechanical rigidity.
authors.affiliation: Berzelii Center EXSELENT for Porous Materials and Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University, Stockholm S-10691, Sweden. shen@mmk.su.se
authors.forename: Zhijian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Höche
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Salamon
authors.forename: Zhengyi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Lyubov
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Belova
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum / Q000737:chemistry; D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D016062:Porosity; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000535:Aluminum