[en] In recent years, nanostructures attracted enormous attention due to size-effects influencing the structural, optical, electrical, and mechanical properties of materials with low dimensions. Concerning the mechanical properties mainly the plastic regime was explored showing a trend that ''smaller is stronger''. In contrast, studies of the elastic behaviour of nanowires revealed contradictory results concerning the influence of size-effects on the elasticity. To investigate single nanoobjects in the elastic regime, we combined an in-situ AFM with XRD in a microfocused beam. The AFM is used to image the sample surface, to select an individual nanostructure, and to apply pressure on a chosen object. Due to the interaction between the AFM-tip and the compressed object the resonance frequency of the AFM force sensor shifts to larger values enabling us to derive the stiffness of the contact area. Simultaneous to the pressure application, XRD images around a pre-defined Bragg peak are recorded. These images allow for the determination of the elastic lattice parameter change in-situ. From the contact stiffness and the lattice parameter change, the Young modulus of an individual nanoobject is derived. Here, we present results both for SiGe islands grown by liquid-phase epitaxy on Si wafers and GaAs nanorods created by selective-area metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy on GaAs substrates.

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[en] Full text: Increase in magnetic storage capabilities inevitably requires miniaturization of magnetic bits. Two solutions for this problem have been proposed: the assembly of magnetic vortexes, where the competition between exchange and dipolar interactions stabilizes a specific magnetic configuration and the modification of magnetic properties of nanoclusters due to change in structural properties, leading to an enhancement of their orbital momentum, especially in 3D transition metals. Since nanoclusters inevitable exhibit superparamagnetism, the determination of the orbital momentum of nanoclusters suffers from the need of high magnetic fields and extremely low temperatures. Therefore, even the search for enhanced magnetic materials is jeopardized by this limitation. In the present work, we have grown cobalt nanoclusters on Au(110) by electron beam deposition under ultra-high vacuum conditions. Scanning tunneling microscopy and low energy electron diffraction confirmed the preparation of a clean Au surface as well as the formation of pure Co nanoclusters in the range of the equivalent of 1-4 monolayers. The magnetization of Cobalt clusters was confirmed by X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism (XMCD) measured at the new PGM beamline at the Brazilian Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (LNLS). A reasonably low magnetic field (1.1 Tesla) was used and the measurements were done at room temperature. By fixing the spin momentum and determining the average angle between the incident X-ray photon and the total magnetic moment, we clearly observe the enhancement of Co orbital momentum as coverage decreases down to approximately 1.5 monolayers. The procedure of determination of the orbital momentum a low magnetic fields will be discussed in detail. (author)

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[en] Nowadays, the growth of nano materials, like nano wires and nano tubes, is one of the key research areas of nano technology. However, a full picture of the growth mechanism of these quasi-one dimensional systems still needs to be achieved if these materials are to be applied electronics, biology and medicinal fields. Nevertheless, in spite of considerable advances on the growth of numerous nano wires, a clear understanding of the growth mechanism is still controversial and highly discussed. The present work provides a comprehensive picture of the precise mechanism of Zn O vapor-solid-solid (VSS) nano wire growth at low temperatures and gives the fundamental reasons responsible. We demonstrate by using a combination of synchrotron XRD and high resolution TEM that the growth dynamics at low temperatures is not governed by the well-known vapor-liquid solid (VLS) mechanisms. A critical new insight on the driving factor of VSS growth is proposed in which the VSS process occurs by a solid diffusion mechanism that is driven by a preferential oxidation process of the Zn inside the alloy catalyst induced by an epitaxial match between the Zn O(10-10) plane and the γ-Au Zn(222) plane. We believe that these results are not only important for the understanding of Zn O nano wire growth but could also have significant impact on the understanding of growth mechanisms of other nano wire systems. (author)

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[en] Depending on kinetic and thermodynamic factors, numerous interesting structures can be created starting from epitaxially grown Si Ge:Si(001). In a regime of relatively low growth temperatures (about 550 degree C), a cooperative nucleation process takes place: pyramidal pits are formed preferentially, followed by the nucleation of {105} elongated islands, leading to Quantum Dot Molecules (QDMs), where the islands can interact electronically with each other. A thorough understanding of the formation of these structures requires knowledge of their strain and compositional fields. Recently, Grazing Incidence Anomalous X ray Diffraction (GIXRD) has been used to understand these issues. The purpose of the measurements taken on the XD1 beam line of the LNLS was to investigate compositional inhomogeneities in QDMs, which helped to elucidate their mechanisms of formation. (author)

[en] We investigate the feasibility of applying coherent diffraction imaging to highly strained epitaxial nanocrystals using finite-element simulations of SiGe islands as input in standard phase retrieval algorithms. We discuss the specific problems arising from both epitaxial and highly strained systems and we propose different methods to overcome these difficulties. Finally, we describe a coherent microdiffraction experimental setup using extremely focused x-ray beams to perform experiments on individual nanostructures.