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Zhong Lin Wang

Publications and source records attributed to Zhong Lin Wang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Formation of orientation-ordered superlattices of magnetite magnetic nanocrystals from shape-segregated self-assemblies.

Magnetic magnetite (Fe3O4) nanocrystals have been synthesized by combining nonhydrolytic reaction with seed-mediated growth. The shape of these magnetite nanocrystals can be controlled either as pure spheres or a mixture of mainly faceted nanocrystals. Faceted magnetite nanocrystals consist of truncated tetrahedral platelets (TTPs), truncated octahedrons (TOs), and octahedrons (OTs). Transmission electron microscopy analysis indicates that the faceted nanocrystal mixture tends to self-segregate based upon the shape in a self-assembly process, and each shape forms its own distinct crystallographic orientation-ordered superlattice assemblies. Self-assemblies of the Fe3O4 nanocrystals in the shapes of TTP, TO, and OT show hexagonal, primitive cubic, and distorted body-centered cubic (bcc) superlattice structures, respectively. The possible mechanism for the formation of different superstructures is attributed to van der Waals interactions. Nanocrystals with different shapes provide diverse building blocks for bottom-up approaches in building nano- and mesosystems. Furthermore, the self-segregation phenomenon of different shaped nanocrystals in self-assembly processes could be very important in envisioning efficient assembly strategies for nanoscience- and nanotechnology-based devices.

Crystallization↗
PubMed2006

High-quality alloyed CdSxSe1-x whiskers as waveguides with tunable stimulated emission.

High-quality ultra-long alloyed CdS(x)Se(1)(-)(x) (0 < or = x < or = 1) whiskers were obtained by a simple thermal evaporation route. The near band-edge emission in these whiskers can be effectively guided at the sub-millimeter scale under continuous-wave laser excitation. As good optical waveguide cavities, the whiskers exhibit stimulated emissions under pulsed light excitation at room temperature for all compositions 0 < or = x < or = 1. The spectral positions of the sharp emission lines of the whiskers were tuned by their compositions, covering the spectral range from green to red.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

PLD-assisted VLS growth of aligned ferrite nanorods, nanowires, and nanobelts-synthesis, and properties.

We report here a systematic synthesis and characterization of aligned alpha-Fe2O3 (hematite), epsilon-Fe2O3, and Fe3O4 (magnetite) nanorods, nanobelts, and nanowires on alumina substrates using a pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method. The presence of spherical gold catalyst particles at the tips of the nanostructures indicates selective growth via the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) mechanism. Through a series of experiments, we have produced a primitive "phase diagram" for growing these structures based on several designed pressure and temperature parameters. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis has shown that the rods, wires, and belts are single-crystalline and grow along <111>m or <110>h directions. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements confirm phase and structural analysis. Superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) measurements show that the iron oxide structures exhibit interesting magnetic behavior, particularly at room temperature. This work is the first known report of magnetite 1D nanostructure growth via the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) mechanism without using a template, as well as the first known synthesis of long epsilon-Fe2O3 nanobelts and nanowires.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Synthesis of FeNi3 alloyed nanoparticles by hydrothermal reduction.

The present paper presents a facile and low-cost hydrothermal method to synthesize stoichiometric FeNi3 alloy nanoparticles by reducing Ni(NO3)2.6H(2)O and Fe(NO3)2.9H(2)O with hydrazine hydrate in strong alkaline media. X-ray diffraction patterns of as-prepared samples synthesized at 180 degrees C for different hydrothermal reaction times reveal that the products are pure stoichiometric FeNi3 alloyed nanoparticles with well-defined crystalline cubic structure when the hydrothermal time is above 2 h, while no crystal phases are detected in the product obtained under ambient pressure in an open system from the same starting prescription. Transmission electron microscopic images show that the size of the as-prepared nanoparticles increases with prolongation of the hydrothermal reaction time. The as-prepared sample has the symmetric hysteresis loop behavior of ferromagnetic materials.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Converting ceria polyhedral nanoparticles into single-crystal nanospheres.

Ceria nanoparticles are one of the key abrasive materials for chemical-mechanical planarization of advanced integrated circuits. However, ceria nanoparticles synthesized by existing techniques are irregularly faceted, and they scratch the silicon wafers and increase defect concentrations. We developed an approach for large-scale synthesis of single-crystal ceria nanospheres that can reduce the polishing defects by 80% and increase the silica removal rate by 50%, facilitating precise and reliable mass-manufacturing of chips for nanoelectronics. We doped the ceria system with titanium, using flame temperatures that facilitate crystallization of the ceria yet retain the titania in a molten state. In conjunction with molecular dynamics simulation, we show that under these conditions, the inner ceria core evolves in a single-crystal spherical shape without faceting, because throughout the crystallization it is completely encapsulated by a molten 1- to 2-nanometer shell of titania that, in liquid state, minimizes the surface energy. The principle demonstrated here could be applied to other oxide systems.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Growth of large-area aligned molybdenum nanowires by high temperature chemical vapor deposition: synthesis, growth mechanism, and device application.

Large-area aligned Mo nanowires have been grown on stainless steel substrates by high-temperature chemical vapor deposition with the use of Mo metal. The detailed physical and chemical growth processes regarding the formation of the nanowires have been investigated using mass spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and differential scanning calorimetry analysis, as well as structure analysis by electron microscopy. In reference to Gibbs energy calculation, our study reveals that the growth relies on the decomposition of MoO2 vapors through condensation of its vapor at high substrate temperatures. The aligned growth is a result of competing growth with the nanowires normal to the substrate surface reaching the final growth front. The field emission measurement and the vacuum luminescent tube study show that the Mo nanowires have potential application as electron emitters.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Piezoelectric nanogenerators based on zinc oxide nanowire arrays.

We have converted nanoscale mechanical energy into electrical energy by means of piezoelectric zinc oxide nanowire (NW) arrays. The aligned NWs are deflected with a conductive atomic force microscope tip in contact mode. The coupling of piezoelectric and semiconducting properties in zinc oxide creates a strain field and charge separation across the NW as a result of its bending. The rectifying characteristic of the Schottky barrier formed between the metal tip and the NW leads to electrical current generation. The efficiency of the NW-based piezoelectric power generator is estimated to be 17 to 30%. This approach has the potential of converting mechanical, vibrational, and/or hydraulic energy into electricity for powering nanodevices.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Springs, rings, and spirals of rutile-structured tin oxide nanobelts.

Single-crystalline springs, rings, and spirals have been discovered for the first time in rutile-structured SnO2. The formation process is proposed for minimizing the electrostatic energy due to the polar charges on the (011) surfaces. These structures are not only ideal systems for fundamental understanding of the polarization effect on the morphology at the nanoscale level but also have potential applications as nanoscale sensors, resonators, and transducers.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Multiwall carbon nanotubes made of monochirality graphite shells.

A multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) consists of several or many concentric carbon shells, each of which could be metallic or semiconducting. Both theoretical predictions and experimental results suggest that MWCNTs have exotic electronic structures and intriguing transport properties, which are highly dependent on chirality of each shell. However, the structural defects and the random distribution of chirality of each concentric graphitic shell make the MWCNTs difficult for basic research and technological applications. Thus far, it is still a challenge to get the high crystalline MWCNTs with limited atomic conformation. Here, we report the synthesis of high crystalline MWCNTs made of monochirality graphite shells by a low-temperature chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process in plasma environment. Structural analysis, carried out by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image and electron diffraction methods, reveal that the MWCNTs are well-crystallized and that most of them have nearly identical chiralities.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

A general approach to binary and ternary hybrid nanocrystals.

We describe and demonstrate a general strategy for engineering binary and ternary hybrid nanoparticles based on spontaneous epitaxial nucleation and growth of a second and third component onto seed nanoparticles in high-temperature organic solutions. Multifunctional hybrid nanoparticles that combine magnetic, plasmonic, and semiconducting properties and that are tunable in size and morphology can be realized, as demonstrated for combinations of Au, Fe3O4 and PbS or PbSe. The properties of each component within the hybrids can be modulated strongly by the conjugating component(s) aided by the coherent interfaces between them.

Crystallization↗
PubMed2006

Periodically twinned nanowires and polytypic nanobelts of ZnS: The role of mass diffusion in vapor-liquid-solid growth.

There are two mass diffusion processes regarding the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth of nanostructures: one is inside the catalyst droplet toward the liquid-solid interface; the other is along the side surface planes of the growing nanostructures. In this letter, microscale, modulated mass diffusion scenarios are exhibited through the synthesis of two types of ZnS nanostructures in an Au-catalyzed VLS process: periodically twinned nanowires originated from periodical fluctuation between diffusion rate inside the catalytic droplet and the growth rate on the liquid-solid interface; the formation of asymmetrically polytypic nanobelts is related to one certain side surface bounded by high surface-energy plane, which serves as a preferential diffusion direction of reactant adatoms. The results may have important impact on the understanding of the physical and chemical process of the VLS mechanism. These longitudinally and latitudinally tunable crystalline structures enrich the family of one-dimensional nano-building blocks, and may find potential applications in nanotechnology.

Computer Simulation↗
PubMed2006

Piezoelectric and semiconducting coupled power generating process of a single ZnO belt/wire. A technology for harvesting electricity from the environment.

This paper presents the experimental observation of piezoelectric generation from a single ZnO wire/belt for illustrating a fundamental process of converting mechanical energy into electricity at nanoscale. By deflecting a wire/belt using a conductive atomic force microscope tip in contact mode, the energy is first created by the deflection force and stored by piezoelectric potential, and later converts into piezoelectric energy. The mechanism of the generator is a result of coupled semiconducting and piezoelectric properties of ZnO. A piezoelectric effect is required to create electric potential of ionic charges from elastic deformation; semiconducting property is necessary to separate and maintain the charges and then release the potential via the rectifying behavior of the Schottky barrier at the metal-ZnO interface, which serves as a switch in the entire process. The good conductivity of ZnO is rather unique because it makes the current flow possible. This paper demonstrates a principle for harvesting energy from the environment. The technology has the potential of converting mechanical movement energy (such as body movement, muscle stretching, blood pressure), vibration energy (such as acoustic/ultrasonic wave), and hydraulic energy (such as flow of body fluid, blood flow, contraction of blood vessels) into electric energy that may be sufficient for self-powering nanodevices and nanosystems in applications such as in situ, real-time, and implantable biosensing, biomedical monitoring, and biodetection.

Electric Conductivity↗
PubMed2006

Composite-hydroxide-mediated approach for the synthesis of nanostructures of complex functional-oxides.

We demonstrate a generic approach for the synthesis of single-crystal complex oxide nanostructures of various structure types, such as perovskites, spinels, monoclinic, corundum, CaF(2) structured, tetragonal, and even metal hydroxides. The method is based on a reaction between a metallic salt and a metallic oxide in a solution of composite-hydroxide eutectic at approximately 200 degrees C and normal atmosphere without using an organic dispersant or capping agent. The synthesis technique is cost-effective, one-step, easy to control, and is performed at low temperature and normal atomospheric pressure. The technique can be expanded to many material systems, and it provides a general, simple, convenient, and innovative strategy for the synthesis of nanostructures of complex oxides with important scientific and technological applications in ferroelectricity, ferromagnetism, colossal magnetoresistance, fuel cell, optics, and more.

Calcium Compounds↗
PubMed2006

Controlled replication of butterfly wings for achieving tunable photonic properties.

The fine structure of the wing scale of a Morpho Peleides butterfly was examined carefully, and the entire configuration was completely replicated by a uniform Al(2)O(3) coating through a low-temperature ALD process. An inverted structure was achieved by removing the butterfly wing template at high temperature, forming a polycrystalline Al(2)O(3) shell structure with precisely controlled thickness. Other than the copy of the morphology of the structure, the optical property, such as the existence of PBG, was also inherited by the alumina replica. Reflection peaks at the violet/blue range were detected on both original wings and their replica, while a simple alumina coating shifted the reflection peak to longer wavelength because of the change of periodicity and refraction index. The alumina replicas also exhibited similar functional structures as waveguide and beam splitter, which may be used as the building blocks for photonic ICs with high reproducibility and lower fabrication cost compared to traditional lithography techniques.

Aluminum Oxide↗
PubMed2006

Superelasticity and nanofracture mechanics of ZnO nanohelices.

A superelasticity (shape memory) behavior has been discovered for the superlattice-structured ZnO nanohelices. By in situ manipulation using a nanoprobe, the nanohelix could elastically recover its shape after an extremely large axial stretching to a degree close to the theoretical limit, while suffering little residual plastic deformation. As a result, its spring constant can be increased continuously for up to 300-800%. A shape memory/recovery of the nanohelix was observed after subjecting to a buckling deformation. The superelastic deformation and fracture process of a nanohelix have been studied by transversely compressing under an AFM tip. A two-step mechanism is suggested for explaining the measured force-displacement curve. It is suggested that the small thickness and the superlattice structure of the nanohelix might be the keys for the observed superelasticity. The ZnO nanohelices may be a new category of shape-memory ceramic nanostructures, which could be of great interest for investigating nanoscale fracture process and application in MEMS and NEMS. The elastic recovery of the nanohelix after extremely large deformation makes it a potential structure for nanoscale elastic energy storage.

Elasticity↗