One-dimensional nanobelts of tin (IV) oxide are synthesized by using a newly introduced catalyst-assisted pulsed laser deposition method along two growth directions of [010] and [101]. An ex situ mask-induced growth gradient technique is employed to investigate the growth evolution of the nanobelts on oxidized-Si, H-terminated Si, and Al2O3(0001) substrates by helium ion microscopy, which revea...

As a two-dimensional semiconductor, WS₂ has attracted great attention due to its rich physical properties and potential applications. However, it is still difficult to synthesize monolayer single-crystalline WS₂ at larger scale. Here, we report the growth of large-scale triangular single-crystalline WS₂ with a semi-sealed installation by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Through this method, tri...

Atomically thin semiconducting transition-metal dichalcogenides have been attracting lots of attentions, particularly, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) monolayers show promising applications in field effect transistors, optoelectronics and valleytronics. However, the controlled synthesis of highly crystalline MoS2 remain a challenge especially the systematic approach to manipulate its structure and ...

The initial growth stage of the single-crystalline Sb and Co nanowires with preferential orientation was studied, which were synthesized in porous anodic alumina membranes by the pulsed electrodeposition technique. It was revealed that the initial growth of the nanowires is a three-dimensional nucleation process, and then gradually transforms to two-dimensional growth via progressive nucleation...

Long, straight mesoscale silver wires have been fabricated from AgNO3 electrolyte via electrodeposition without the help of templates, additives, and surfactants. Although the wire growth speed is very fast due to growth under non-equilibrium conditions, the wire morphology is regular and uniform in diameter. Structural studies reveal that the wires are single-crystalline, with the [112] direct...

Morphological control of multimetallic nanostructures is crucial for obtaining shape-dependent physical and chemical properties. Up to date, control of the shapes of multimetallic nanostructures has remained largely empirical. Multimetallic nanostructures have been produced mostly through seed-mediated growth. Understanding the role played by starting nanocrystal seeds can help in controlling t...

The results of kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of epitaxial growth on fcc~100! and bcc~100! surfaces in which the correct crystal geometry is taken into account are reported. The existence of downward funneling to fourfold hollow sites leads to a downward current for large angles and to angle selection as observed in a variety of experiments. We have used our model to simulate Fe/Fe~100! deposi...

Many polymer and organic small-molecule thin films crystallize with microstructures that twist or curve in a regular manner as crystal growth proceeds. Here we present a phase-field model that energetically favors twisting of the three-dimensional crystalline orientation about and along particular axes, allowing morphologies such as banded spherulites, curved dendrites, and "s"- or "c"-shaped n...

We have generalised our x-ray diffraction results from amorphous/ crystalline multilayers, to include random interfacial disorder of a gaussian type. A general relation is obtained which can be applied to both crystalline/crystalline and crystalline/amorphous multilayers. This gaussian fluctuation or "roughness" can strongly reduce the long-range atomic order along the growth direction of the m...

Current methods of chemical vapour deposition (CVD) of graphene on copper are complicated by multiple processing steps and by high temperatures required in both preparing the copper and inducing subsequent film growth. Here we demonstrate a plasma-enhanced CVD chemistry that enables the entire process to take place in a single step, at reduced temperatures (<420 °C), and in a matter of minutes....