Special grain boundaries of anatase nanocondensates by oriented attachment
Abstract
Anatase nanocondensates with a 1-D commensurate superstructure as prepared by the pulsed laser ablation of Ti in tetraethyl orthosilicate were identified by transmission electron microscopy to have special grain boundaries, i.e. symmetrical [100] tilt boundaries with (001) or (01) interfaces and an asymmetrical [1
0] tilt boundary with a (001)/(11
) heterointerface. The [100] tilt boundaries are in fact due to basal twinning with a coherent (001) and a semi-coherent (01
) interface, respectively, both following the Burgers vector
= 1/2[0
0] + 1/4[00
]. The (001)/(11
) heterointerface is decorated with {101} ledges, both having a primitive coincidence site lattice for fair lattice coherency. These special grain boundaries can be rationalized by the (hkl)-specific rotation/coalescence of the crystalline nanocondensates.
- This article is part of the themed collection: Nanocrystal growth via oriented attachment