A theoretical study on the growth of low-dimensional nanocrystals on isotropic substrates

Abstract

We present a theoretical model describing the growth of low-dimensional nanocrystals with various shapes on liquid surfaces. The characteristic aggregation of deposited atoms is primarily resulted from the property of isotropic and free-sustained substrates. In the subsequent growth process, the atoms diffuse along preferential growth direction after they meet and then the low-dimensional nanocrystal forms gradually. The variety of nanocrystal morphology is attributed to the deviation of seed crystal size or growth direction in the initial stage caused by inhomogeneous deposition conditions. The dependence of nanocrystal length and growth rate during the growth process was discussed, and the results are in good agreement with the experimental findings.