title: Shape without Structure: An Intriguing Formation Mechanism in the Solvothermal Synthesis of the Phase-Change Material Sb2 Te3.
abstract: We introduce a novel solvothermal synthesis of individual single crystalline Sb2 Te3 micro- and nanocrystals as a model material for phase-change switching. We identified different intermediates along the reaction path to the final Sb2 Te3 hexagonal platelets (HPs) and discuss their forming mechanism. By means of nanodiffraction (ND) in a scanning transmission electron microscope we demonstrate that the intermediates follow a hexagonal shape evolution in the amorphous state. In situ nanomanipulator measurements reveal electrical phase-change switching properties of the individual Sb2 Te3 hexagonal platelets.
authors: Institut für Anorganische Chemie, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 1, 52074 Aachen (Germany).|JARA-Fundamentals of Future Information Technologies, RWTH Aachen University, Ahornstrasse 55, 52074 Aachen (Germany).
authors: Tobias
authors: T
authors: Saltzmann
authors: Gemeinschaftslabor für Elektronenmikroskopie, RWTH Aachen University, Ahornstrasse 55, 52074 Aachen (Germany).|JARA-Fundamentals of Future Information Technologies, RWTH Aachen University, Ahornstrasse 55, 52074 Aachen (Germany).
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Bornhöfft
authors: Gemeinschaftslabor für Elektronenmikroskopie, RWTH Aachen University, Ahornstrasse 55, 52074 Aachen (Germany).|JARA-Fundamentals of Future Information Technologies, RWTH Aachen University, Ahornstrasse 55, 52074 Aachen (Germany).
authors: Joachim
authors: J
authors: Mayer
authors: Institut für Anorganische Chemie, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 1, 52074 Aachen (Germany). U.Simon@ac.rwth-aachen.de.|JARA-Fundamentals of Future Information Technologies, RWTH Aachen University, Ahornstrasse 55, 52074 Aachen (Germany). U.Simon@ac.rwth-aachen.de.
authors: Ulrich
authors: U
authors: Simon
keywords: amorphous intermediates; in situ measurements; nanodiffraction; phase change; solvothermal synthesis