Is it possible to grow amorphous normal nanosprings ?

TL;DR

This paper investigates the feasibility of growing amorphous normal nanosprings, analyzing the growth conditions and energetics, and concludes that their formation is unlikely within the vapor-liquid-solid model.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical analysis showing that amorphous normal nanosprings are not energetically favored to grow under current models.

Findings

Amorphous normal nanosprings have not been observed experimentally.

Crystalline ZnO nanohelix has been recently synthesized.

Growth of amorphous normal nanosprings is energetically unfavorable within the vapor-liquid-solid model.

Abstract

Nanosprings have been object of intense investigations in recent years. They can be classified as normal or binormal depending on the geometry of their cross-section. Normal amorphous nanosprings have not been observed experimentally up to now, and only recently the synthesis of a crystalline ZnO normal nanohelix has been reported. We discuss the shape of the catalyst in terms of the cross-sectional shape of the nanospring, and show that, within the vapor-liquid-solid model, the growth of amorphous normal nanospring is not energetically favoured.