Structural Perturbations Within Ge Nanocrystals in Silica

Abstract

Ge nanocrystals retain the diamond-type lattice characteristic of bulk crystalline materials. However, EXAFS measurements demonstrate the presence of atomic-scale structural perturbations in Ge nanocrystals relative to bulk crystalline material. These perturbations are apparent as both bond length and bond angle distortions and attributed to the influences of interfacial-bonding-induced strain and a matrix-induced compression.