Self-Assembled Nanofold Network Formation on Layered Crystal Surfaces during Metal Intercalation

by E. Spiecker et al. Physical Review Letters, 27 Feb 2006 Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, US, and the Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Germany, have solved the mystery of how nanostructured networks form when transition metal dichalcogenide crystals are bombarded with metal atoms. It turns out that the structures self-assemble when the top layer of the crystal deforms to relieve compressive stress. Read more