Precise control of structural parameters through nanoscale engineering to continuously tailor optical and electronic properties of functional nanomaterials remains an outstanding challenge. Previous work focused largely on chemical or physical interactions that occur under ambient pressures. In this article, we introduce a new pressure-directed assembly and fabrication method that uses a mechanical compressive force applied to nanoparticles (NPs) to induce structural phase transitions and consolidate new nanomaterials with precisely controlled structures and tunable properties. By manipulating NP coupling through external pressure instead of through chemistry, a reversible change in assembly structure and properties can be demonstrated. In addition, over a certain threshold, the external pressure forces these NPs into contact, allowing the formation and consolidation of one- to three-dimensional nanostructures. Through stress-induced NP assembly, unusual materials engineering and synthesis, in which morphology and architecture can be readily tuned to produce desired optical and electrical properties, appear feasible.

The monoclinic-to-tetragonal phase transition (~70 °C) in vanadium dioxide (VO2) strongly impacts the infrared properties, which enables its use in applications such as smart window devices. Synthesis of VO2 can be challenging due to the variability of vanadium oxide phases that may be formed. We have employed high-temperature X-ray diffraction (HTXRD) to monitor the reaction process of vanadium oxide precursor powders to form the desired tetragonal VO2 phase. Single-phase tetragonal VO2 was formed within 30 min at 420 °C in flowing N2 gas (~50 ppm O2). The monoclinic-to-tetragonal phase transformation was observed via HTXRD at ~70 °C with the typical ~10 °C hysteresis (i.e. approached from above or below the transition).

We examine the influence of various substrate preparation procedures for ion-beam assist deposition (IBAD) texturing of MgO. IBAD-MgO nano-texturing is very sensitive to the nucleation surface, and surface roughness has an important influence on the texture of the MgO layer. We studied Hastelloy C-276 metal alloy as the substrate. The untreated substrate is leveled by either electropolishing, mechanical polishing or solution deposition. All three methods are applied to continuously moving tapes in long lengths. The RMS surface roughness decreases from 20-50 nm for the untreated substrate to 0.5 nm, 0.3 nm and 1 nm respectively. The in-plane and out-of plane crystalline alignment of the MgO layer improves as the roughness is decreased below 2 nm.

We demonstrate the functionalization of 2-D photonic crystal structures operating at ∼ 1.5 μm with colloidal PbSe quantum dots and examine the modified photoluminescence from the functionalized photonic crystal. Using spin coating and airbrushing, monodisperse PbSe quantum dots were deposited from hexanes on lithographically patterned GaAs photonic crystal substrates. The effectiveness of patterning the PbSe quantum dots via standard liftoff process was examined. The near-IR photoluminescence spectra of quantum dot-functionalized photonic crystals were studied. We found that the photoluminescence peak became attenuated by approximately a factor of five and exhibited a narrow peak width (50 nm vs. 120 nm) compared to PbSe deposited on unpatterned GaAs, suggesting that there is some coupling between the quantum dots and the photonic crystal. Future work to improve the coupling and detection efficiency is proposed.

Lanthanide (Ln) doping of lead zirconate titanate (PLnZT 4/30/70) thin films was conducted to investigate effects on structural and electrical properties. Films were spin-coat deposited from precursor solutions made using a previously reported “basic route to PZT” chemistry. The remanent polarization (Pr), dielectric constant (ε), dielectric loss (tan δ), and lattice parameter values were obtained for each of the doped PLnZT films. Films doped with amphoteric cations (Tb, Dy, Y, and Ho) displayed high Pr values, square hysteresis loops, and enhanced fatigue resistance. Smaller radius Ln-doped films display an increased tendency toward (100) orientation in otherwise (111)-oriented films.

Photonic crystals are of interest for GHz transmission applications, including rapid switching, GHz filters, and phased-array technology. 3D fabrication by Robocasting enables moldless printing of high solid loading slurries into structures such as the “woodpile” structures used to fabricate dielectric photonic band gap crystals. In this work, tunable dielectric materials were developed and printed into woodpile structures via solid freefrom fabrication (SFF) toward demonstration of tunable photonic crystals. Barium strontium titanate ceramics possess interesting electrical properties including high permittivity, low loss, and high tunability. This paper discusses the processing route and dielectric characterization of (BaxSr1-XTiO3):MgO ceramic composites, toward fabrication of tunable dielectric photonic band gap crystals.