Theoretical determination of the necessary conditions for the formation of ZnO nanorings and nanohelices

TL;DR

This paper theoretically investigates the formation conditions of ZnO nanorings and nanohelices, revealing that their stability results from a balance of elastic, surface, volume, and defect energies, aligning with experimental observations.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical framework identifying the necessary energetic conditions for stable ZnO nanorings and nanohelices formation.

Findings

Nanorings and nanohelices are stable and energetically favorable structures.

Formation depends on competition among elastic, surface, volume, and defect energies.

Theoretical results align with experimental observations.

Abstract

The formation of ZnO nanorings and nanohelices with large polar surfaces observed in experiments [Nano Lett. 3, 1625 (2003); J. Am. Chem. Soc. 126, 6703 (2004)] is shown to be a result of the competition between elastic energy, spontaneous polarization-induced surface energy, volume energy, and defect-induced energy. It is found that nanorings and nanohelices observed in experiments are stable and energetically favorable structures.