Eur. Phys. J. D 34, 303-305 (2005)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2005-00164-y

Microstructure characterization of Al₂O₃ nanowires with networked rectangular nanostructure

Electron Microscopy Laboratory, and State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics, Department of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, P.R. China

Corresponding author: ^a yudp@pku.edu.cn

Received: 6 September 2004
Published online: 13 July 2005

Abstract

L-shaped and U-shaped Al₂O₃ nanowires were synthesized using a vapor phase deposition method. The as-grown nanowires are single crystalline and structurally uniform at the junction of the branches. Detailed TEM analysis revealed that the growth direction of the nanowires is parallel to the a- or b-axis directions, and switched growth from one direction to another forms the rectangular morphology of the peculiar L-shaped or U-shaped nanowires. Possible growth mechanism of the Al₂O₃ nanowires was explained. Our results can provide evidence to understand the growth mechanism of the complicated nanostructure.