Abstract: A replication technique is employed to reproduce substrates having periodic nanometer scale structures formed on a surface thereof. In the technique, a thin film of cellulose acetate is placed on top of a template substrate having the desired surface to be replicated. The cellulose acetate is softened, thereby taking on the configuration of the template surface. The film is peeled off, yielding a negative replica of the template surface on the underside of the film. A thin layer of suitable material, such as gold, platinum, iron or carbon, is then deposited on the underside of the film, thus resulting in formation of a replica substrate having the same periodic nanostructure characteristics as the original template.

Abstract: The periodic stress and strain fields produced by a pure twist grain boundary between two single crystals bonded together in the form of a bicrystal are used to fabricate a two-dimensional surface topography with controllable, nanometer-scale feature spacings (e.g., from 50 nanometers down to 1.5 nanometers). The spacing of the features is controlled by the misorientation angle used during crystal bonding. One of the crystals is selected to be thin, on the order of 5-100 nanometers. A buried periodic array of screw dislocations is formed at the twist grain boundary. To bring the buried periodicity to the surface, the thin single crystal is etched to reveal an array of raised elements, such as pyramids, that have nanometer-scale dimensions. The process can be employed with numerous materials, such as gold, silicon and sapphire. In addition, the process can be used with different materials for each crystal such that a periodic array of misfit dislocations is formed at the interface between the two crystals.

Abstract: The periodic stress and strain fields produced by a pure twist grain boundary between two single crystals bonded together in the form of a bicrystal are used to fabricate a two-dimensional surface topography with controllable, nanometer-scale feature spacings (e.g., from 50 nanometers down to 1.5 nanometers). The spacing of the features is controlled by the misorientation angle used during crystal bonding. One of the crystals is selected to be thin, on the order of 5-100 nanometers. A buried periodic array of screw dislocations is formed at the twist grain boundary. To bring the buried periodicity to the surface, the thin single crystal is etched to reveal an array of raised elements, such as pyramids, that have nanometer-scale dimensions. The process can be employed with numerous materials, such as gold, silicon and sapphire. In addition, the process can be used with different materials for each crystal such that a periodic array of misfit dislocations is formed at the interface between the two crystals.

Abstract: In situ formation of metal-ceramic oxide microstructures is carried out on a starting oxide phase containing at least a most noble metallic component (e.g., iron) and a least noble metallic component (e.g. manganese) and subjecting the starting oxide phase to a temperature and oxygen partial pressure and for a time period to cause reduction of only part of the most noble metallic component to elemental metal.

Abstract: Metal-ceramic interfaces of enhanced strength are produced by positioning bodies of ceramic oxides and transition element metals or alloys containing such in abutting relationship, and heating in air at a temperature ranging from 500.degree. C. to just below the melting point of the metal of the metal body to join said bodies and then subsequently heat treating said joined bodies in a reducing atmosphere at a temperature in the range of 300.degree. C. to 1200.degree. C. to form intermetallic compound layer at the interface.