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
![nano1.png](https://www.chemie.uni-bonn.de/mader/de/pics-mader/nano1.png/@@images/image)
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.
![nano2.jpg](https://www.chemie.uni-bonn.de/mader/de/pics-mader/nano2.jpg/@@images/image)
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.