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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
In this study, self-organized growth of gold nanoparticles dispersed in amorphous alumina matrices was investigated. Au/Al2O3 multilayered structures were grown on silicon (001) substrates using pulsed laser deposition. Vertical ordering of particles was examined with cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy and image Fourier transformation. Self-organization of gold nanoparticles along the vertical direction was observed in the samples grown at room temperature and 320 °C. This process occurred through two-different growth modes, known as top-on-top growth and top-on-middle growth. The driving force for the vertical ordering was attributed to long-range elastic interactions among nanoparticles during the film deposition process.