title: Multiscale Self-Assembly of Silicon Quantum Dots into an Anisotropic Three-Dimensional Random Network.
abstract: Multiscale self-assembly is ubiquitous in nature but its deliberate use to synthesize multifunctional three-dimensional materials remains rare, partly due to the notoriously difficult problem of controlling topology from atomic to macroscopic scales to obtain intended material properties. Here, we propose a simple, modular, noncolloidal methodology that is based on exploiting universality in stochastic growth dynamics and driving the growth process under far-from-equilibrium conditions toward a preplanned structure. As proof of principle, we demonstrate a confined-but-connected solid structure, comprising an anisotropic random network of silicon quantum-dots that hierarchically self-assembles from the atomic to the microscopic scales. First, quantum-dots form to subsequently interconnect without inflating their diameters to form a random network, and this network then grows in a preferential direction to form undulated and branching nanowire-like structures. This specific topology simultaneously achieves two scale-dependent features, which were previously thought to be mutually exclusive: good electrical conduction on the microscale and a bandgap tunable over a range of energies on the nanoscale.
authors: Department of Micro and Nanotechnology, Middle East Technical University , 06800, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Serim
authors: S
authors: Ilday
authors: F Ömer
authors: FÖ
authors: Ilday
authors: Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf , D-01328 Dresden, Germany.
authors: René
authors: R
authors: Hübner
authors: CAMECA Instruments Inc. , Madison, Wisconsin 53711 United States.
authors: Ty J
authors: TJ
authors: Prosa
authors: CAMECA Instruments Inc. , Madison, Wisconsin 53711 United States.
authors: Isabelle
authors: I
authors: Martin
authors: Department of Physics, Middle East Technical University , 06800, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Gizem
authors: G
authors: Nogay
authors: Department of Physics, Akdeniz University , 07058, Antalya, Turkey.
authors: Ismail
authors: I
authors: Kabacelik
authors: Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research , Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
authors: Zoltan
authors: Z
authors: Mics
authors: Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research , Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
authors: Mischa
authors: M
authors: Bonn
authors: Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research , Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
authors: Dmitry
authors: D
authors: Turchinovich
authors: Department of Physics, Middle East Technical University , 06800, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Hande
authors: H
authors: Toffoli
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Universita di Trieste , Via L. Giorgieri 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy.
authors: Daniele
authors: D
authors: Toffoli
authors: Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf , D-01328 Dresden, Germany.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Friedrich
authors: Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf , D-01328 Dresden, Germany.
authors: Bernd
authors: B
authors: Schmidt
authors: Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf , D-01328 Dresden, Germany.
authors: Karl-Heinz
authors: KH
authors: Heinig
authors: Department of Physics, Middle East Technical University , 06800, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Rasit
authors: R
authors: Turan
keywords: Si; hierarchical; multiscale; random network; self-assembly; stochastic deposition