Nanoshell tubes of ferroelectric lead zirconate titanate and barium titanate

Wafer-scale fabrication of ferroelectric oxide nanoshell tubes as well as ordered nanotube arrays have been accomplished using a simple and convenient fabrication method that allows full tailoring of tube dimensions as well as array pattern and size. Using different silicon and alumina templates, barium titanate and lead zirconate titanate tubes with diameters ranging from 50 nm up to several micrometers meter and lengths of more 100 mum have been fabricated. Ferroelectric switching of submicrometer tubes has been shown using piezoresponse scanning probe microscopy. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.