Successful fabrication of nanostructures of convex shape on the as-prepared surfaces of Nd1Ba2Cu3Oy single crystals

Recently, it was shown that the as-prepared surfaces of Nd1Ba2Cu3Oy (Nd123) single crystals are highly stable in air. In this letter, we report our preliminary results of nanostructure fabrication of pyramids and convex lines through patterning on the surfaces of Nd123 single crystals using an ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunnelling microscope system. This opens up a new door for nanostructure engineering and device fabrications on the surfaces of high temperature superconductors. # 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.