A new concept in fabricating building blocks for nanoelectronic and nanomechanic devices

This review outlines a new fabrication concept for three-dimensional (3D) nanoshells that can be obtained, in a self-formed manner, from several-monolayer (ML) thick semiconductor or metal thin-film planar structures. Fabrication of InGaAs/GaAs, SiGe/Si cylindrical micro- and nanoshells (tubes, spirals, and rings) is described. New results on the formation of periodic structures, open and closed single-crystal 3D nanoshells of various shapes with a minimum radius of curvature of similar to1 nm, and also on assembling these shells in more complex architectures are reported. Possible applications of structures obtained by the new technology are considered. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.