Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol.126, No.21, 6703-6709, 2004
Formation of piezoelectric single-crystal nanorings and nanobows
Bending of polar-surface-dominated (PSD) nanobelts of ZnO can be explained by one of two processes: electrostatic neutralization of the dipole moment via deformation (called an electrostatic polar charge model) or imbalances between surface tensions via surface-termination induced stresses. This article presents experimental data on the structural features of nanorings and nanobows formed by bending single-crystal, PSD ZnO nanobelts. Our data exclusively support the electrostatic polar charge model as the dominant mechanism for bending.