Universal method for the fabrication of detachable ultrathin films of several transition metal oxides.

Ultrathin films are important nanoscale structures that are used extensively in a variety of technological contexts. However, it has traditionally been difficult and costly to fabricate detachable and purely inorganic high aspect ratio films with controlled thickness and good uniformity. Here we report a versatile method to make separable purely inorganic membranes of various metal oxides such as Nb(2)O(5), TiO(2), WO(3), and Ta(2)O(5) with thicknesses ranging from 30 to 150 nm.

Nanopatterning of transition metal surfaces via electrochemical dimple array formation.

Nanoscale surface patterning is of great importance for applications ranging from catalysts to biomaterials. We show the formation of ordered nanoscale dimple arrays on titanium, tungsten, and zirconium during electropolishing, demonstrating versatility of a process previously only reported for tantalum. This is a rare example of an electrochemical pattern formation process that can be translated to other materials.

Roughening of gold atomic steps induced by interaction with tetrahydrofuran.

Exposure of a clean gold surface to tetrahydrofuran (THF) under ambient conditions was observed to cause roughening of atomic step edges. This change was followed in situ using a scanning tunneling microscope during the exposure of a gold surface to a controlled stream of THF vapor. THF is a common solvent used in depositing molecules, self-assembled monolayers, and polymer films on surfaces, in electrochemistry, and in chemical reactions.