Transmission electron microscopy investigation of self-assembly ZnO twinning nanostructures

Self-assembly ZnO twinning nanostructures are studied by transmission electron microscopy systematically. Selected area electron diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy observations indicate two types of twin boundaries (01 (1) over bar(1) over bar) and (01 (1) over bar3) appeared in the same nanostructure and the twinning relationships are well defined. Convergent-beam electron diffraction techniques determine the polarities of the building blocks are all Zn terminated with the help of theoretical simulations, which is further confirmed by electron energy loss spectroscopy under (0002) and (000 (2) over bar) Bragg conditions.(c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.