Twinning-mediated anomalous alignment of rutile films revealed by synchrotron X-ray nanodiffraction.

ABSTRACT: Nanotwin structures in materials engender fascinating exotic properties. However, twinning usually alter the crystal orientation, resulting in random orientation and limited performances. Here, we report a well-aligned rutile TiO₂ nanotwin film with superior preferential orientation than its isostructural substrate. By means of the synchrotron X-ray Laue nanodiffraction technique, the crystal orientation, twin boundaries, and deviatoric stresses of the film were quantitatively imaged at unprecedented spatial resolution to unravel the underlying mechanism of this anomalous alignment. Massive {101}-type rutile nanotwins were observed, and a crystallographic relationship of the heteroepitaxy was proposed. The rapid twinning and twin-controlled heteroepitaxy are responsible for the

SUBMITTER: Lu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8005809 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature