Nanomolding of Crystalline Metals: The Smaller the Easier

We report on a thermomechanical nanomolding method for crystalline metals. Quantified by the aspect ratio, this process becomes easier with decreasing mold diameter. As the responsible underlying diffusion mechanism is present in all metals and alloys, the discovered nanomolding process provides a toolbox to shape essentially any metal and alloy into a nanofeature. Technologically, this highly versatile and practical thermomechanical nanomolding technique offers a method to fabricate high-surface-area metallic nanostructures which are impactful in diverse fields of applications including catalysts, sensors, photovoltaics, microelectronics, and plasmonics.Received 8 July 2018DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.122.036101© 2019 American Physical SocietyPhysics Subject Headings (PhySH)Research AreasNanocrystalsPatterningSurface diffusionPhysical SystemsAmorphous materialsNanostructuresSingle crystal materialsTechniquesCrystal growthScaling methodsPolymers & Soft MatterInterdisciplinary PhysicsCondensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics