A theoretical model describing the one-dimensional growth of single crystals on free sustained substrates. (March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ye, Ziran; Wang, Ke; Lu, Chenxi; Jin, Ying; Sui, Chenghua; Yan, Bo; Gao, Fan; Cai, Pinggen; Lv, Bin; Li, Yun; Chen, Naibo; Sun, Guofang; Xu, Fengyun; Ye, Gaoxiang
• Is Part Of: Solid state communications. Volume 271(2018)
• Page Start: 76
• Page End: 80
• Publication Date: 2018-03
• Subjects: Thin film -- Liquid substrate -- Zn crystal -- Free sustained; Solid state chemistry -- Periodicals; Solid state physics -- Periodicals; Chimie de l'état solide -- Périodiques; Physique de l'état solide -- Périodiques; 530.41
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ssc.2017.12.023
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-1098

Abstract

Abstract: We develop a theoretical model that interprets the growth mechanism of zinc (Zn) crystal nanorods on a liquid substrate by thermal evaporation. During deposition, Zn atoms diffuse randomly on an isotropic and quasi-free sustained substrate, the nucleation of the atoms results in the primary nanorod (or seed crystal) growth. Subsequently, a characteristic one-dimensional atomic aggregation is proposed, which leads to the accelerating growth of the crystal nanorod along its preferential growth direction until the growth terminates. The theoretical results are in good agreement with the experimental findings. Highlights: A theoretical model that describe the growth mechanism of Zn crystal nanorods on a liquid substrate is proposed. The growth process can be divided into two periods: (1) the nucleation and seed crystal formation, (2) one-dimensional atomic aggregation and then the growth along preferential direction. Unlike traditional VLS or SLS growth method, the diameter of the Zn crystal nanorod is determined by the growth behavior of the seed crystal instead of the catalyst particle size.