PbTiO3 nanorod arrays grown by self-assembly of nanocrystals

Arrays of ferroelectric lead titanate (PbTiO3) nanorods have been grown on a substrate by a novel template-free method. Hydrothermal treatment of an amorphous PbTiO3 precursor in the presence of a surfactant and PbTiO3 or SrTiO3 substrates resulted in the growth of PbTiO3 nanorod arrays aligned perpendicular to the substrate surface. Two steps in the growth mechanism were demonstrated: first an epitaxial layer was formed on the substrate; this was followed by self-assembly of nanocrystals forming a mesocrystal layer which matured into arrays of PbTiO3 nanorods.