Epitaxially driven formation of intricate supported gold nanostructures on a lattice-matched oxide substrate

Nano Lett. 2009 Dec;9(12):4258-63. doi: 10.1021/nl902491g.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aluminum Compounds / chemistry*
  • Crystallization / methods*
  • Gold / chemistry*
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Magnesium Compounds / chemistry*
  • Materials Testing
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure*
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Particle Size
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Aluminum Compounds
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Magnesium Compounds
  • aluminum magnesium oxide
  • Gold