nanoscale structures
Synthesis and characterization of nanostructuctures are in the focus of our research. To the structures of interest belong two dimensional (thin films), one dimensional (nanowires or -rods) and „zero” dimensional objects such as nanocrystal. The nanoscale objects are synthesized using bottom-up principle of chemical methods from solution or from the gas phase. We are aiming the development of new methods or a combination of methods, the establishing of not yet synthesized compounds at nano-scale, and the detailed investigation of basic mechanisms in methods for nanosystems synthesis. TEM methods are best suited for structural and chemical characterization of nanostructures
Synthesis of lithium niobate (LiNbO3) nanocrystals.
Monodisperse nanocrystals of LiNbO3 are synthesized by the heating-up method from LiNb(OiPr)6 precursor in 1-octadecene + oleic acid (left). Nanocrystals imaged on graphen support can be seen functionalized by oleate surfactants and exhibit facets parallel to the R plane appearing as pseudo cubes (middle). At high magnification in <2021> orientation bright dots correspond to the Nb positions as shown by inset of the metal ions.
Synthesis and self-assembly of Sr(Ti,Zr)O3 nanocubes.
Highly monodisperse nanocubes of Sr(Ti,Zr)O3 are synthesized using a modified micelle method where micelles are produced in situ at the oil-water interface at hydrothermal conditions in an autoclave. The oleate-functionalized nanocubes assemble to monolayers at a support (top left and right) or even assemble to super-cubes (bottom left) depending on supply of oleate in the suspension.