Composite-hydroxide-mediated approach for the synthesis of nanostructures of complex functional-oxides

We demonstrate a generic approach for the synthesis of single-crystal complex oxide nanostructures of various structure types, such as perovskites, spinels, monoclinic, corundum, CaF2 structured, tetragonal, and even metal hydroxides. The method is based on a reaction between a metallic salt and a metallic oxide in a solution of composite-hydroxide eutectic at 200 °C and normal atmosphere without using an organic dispersant or capping agent. The synthesis technique is cost-effective, one-step, easy to control, and is performed at low temperature and normal atomospheric pressure. The technique can be expanded to many material systems, and it provides a general, simple, convenient, and innovative strategy for the synthesis of nanostructures of complex oxides with important scientific and technological applications in ferroelectricity, ferromagnetism, colossal magnetoresistance, fuel cell, optics, and more. Complex oxides with structures such as perovskite, spinel, and garnet have many important properties and applications in science and engineering, such as ferroelectricity, ferro-magnetism, colossal magnetoresistance, semiconductors, luminance, and optoelectronics.1-6 Nanostructures (nano-particles, nanowires, and nanobelts) of complex oxides have attracted much attention because of their size-induced nove