Large-scale template-assisted growth of LiNbO3 one-dimensional nanostructures for nano-sensors

Lithium niobate (LiNbO3) exhibits outstanding photorefractive, piezo-electric, electrooptic and non-linear properties, as well as pronounced mechanical and chemical stability and a wide transparency range. We prepared LiNbO3 nanotubes with diameters ranging from a few tens to a few hundreds of nanometers and a wall thickness on the order of 20 nm. Ordered porous alumina templates were wetted with solutions of a single source precursor, which was converted to LiNbO3 by thermolysis. The LiNbO3 nanotubes can be aligned within highly ordered arrays. They were characterized by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. LiNbO3 nanotubes may be employed as building blocks for micro- and nanoelectronic devices such as ferroelectric nonvolatile memories, sensor systems, and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS).