Assembled nano-structures from micron-sized precursors

Oriented assembly of small crystals to form larger structures are common in nature and full understanding and control of such process would be beneficial for the forthcoming nano-technologies. Such bottom-up assembly of nano-structures most often requires a precursor of nano-sized crystals. Here we demonstrate a novel laser sintering process that can rupture a submicron-sized zirconia precursor into nano-sized crystals, followed by a rapid oriented assembly of these small crystals. A detailed structure study has been carried out to understand the complex process and a model has been proposed. Such a process sheds light on a new way of fabricating nano-materials using commercialized oxide materials.