Characterization of self-organized crystalline Au nanoparticles embedded in epitaxially grown SrTiO 3
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Christian Katzer Institute of Solid State Physics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, D-07743 Jena, Germany
Andreas Undisz, Martin Drüe, and Markus Rettenmayr Otto Schott Institute of Materials Research, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, D-07743 Jena, Germany
Ingo Uschmann Institute of Optics and Quantum Electronics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, D-07743 Jena, Germany; and Helmholtz Institute Jena, D-07743 Jena, Germany
Frank Schmidl Institute of Solid State Physics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, D-07743 Jena, Germany (Received 5 May 2014; accepted 2 March 2015)
Crystalline Au nanoparticles embedded in epitaxially grown SrTiO3 layers were prepared by an annealing and coating procedure of Au seed layers on SrTiO3 (STO) substrates. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy measurements were performed to investigate the size, shape, and deformation of the particles and their crystal orientation. The shape and size of the crystalline Au nanoparticles can be tuned by controlling the Au seed layer thickness and single crystalline elliptically shaped Au nanoparticles have been generated. Furthermore, the orientation of the surrounding SrTiO3 matrix changes significantly from homoepitaxially grown (001) to secondary (111) and (011) orientations for Au seed layers that are thicker than 4 nm. This is of great interest for modifying the electrical properties of SrTiO3 layers, whereas the anisotropically shaped crystalline particles are relevant for optical applications, due to localized surface plasmon resonances.
I. INTRODUCTION
In recent years, nanoparticles were used to tune the physical properties of numerous matrix materials.1–8 For example, they were used to change the optical behavior of a dielectric matrix due to the excitation of surface plasmon resonances,9 to locally increase the critical current density in superconducting thin films,10 allowing to optimize the performance of sensor devices11 or to enhance resistive switching effects.12,13 On the other hand, the matrix material can be used to tune the size, shape, and distribution density of the nanoparticles.14 In particular, anisotropic particles that promise increased sensitivity are of great interest for detection technologies of biomolecules.15 Furthermore, various applications demand crystalline nanoparticles with different sizes and aspect ratios.16 We will show that the growth of such particles is straightforward using matrix-induced growth. Contributing Editor: Eric A. Stach a) Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: [email protected] DOI: 10.1557/jmr.2015.66 J. Mater. Res., Vol. 30, No. 7, Apr 14, 2015
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Strontium titanate is used in science in many electronic devices like capacitors, thermistors, varistors, resistive switches, and as gate dielectrics in semiconductors due its high dielectric constant. In addition, it plays a decisive role as a substrate material for the growth of titanates and superconductive layers. In combination with Au nanopa
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