Mechanism and Kinetics of Spontaneous Nanotube Growth Driven by Screw Dislocations

Nanosynthesis Without a Twist The synthesis of many nanoscale materials occurs under conditions of changing saturation because generation of product decreases the concentration of reactants. Morin et al. (p. 476 ) used a flow reactor to maintain conditions of low supersaturation during the growth of zinc oxide nanotubes and nanowires. Under these conditions, growth of the tubes was controlled by the release of stress, which prevented the torquing of the crystals along their axis. Since growth at different saturation conditions matched predictions, this looks like a promising method to develop rational and controlled synthesis of nanomaterials at large scale and low cost.