Preparation of network-like MgO nanobelts on Si substrate

Cubic-structure MgO nanobelts were synthesized on silicon wafers in a simple CVD process, using infrared irradiation to heat the Mg/Al target under mediate vacuum. The nanobelts were 100–200 nm wide with a width/thickness ratio of 1–2. Most of the nanobelts were connected with others to form networks. The direction of nanobelt lengths is along 〈1 0 0〉 and the surfaces are enclosed by {1 0 0} planes. The individual network has a single-crystal structure, resulting in high-network stiffness. The formation mechanism of the nanostructures was proposed. This provides an efficient way to prepare MgO one-dimensional nanostructures on different substrates over a large-area.