Publication Date:
2018
Description:
〈p〉Single-crystal metals have unique properties due to the absence of grain boundaries and strong anisotropy. Commercial single-crystal metals are usually synthesized by bulk crystal growth or by deposition of thin films onto substrates, and they are expensive and small. We prepare extremely large single-crystal metal foils by ‘contact-free annealing’ from commercial polycrystalline foils. The colossal grain growth (up to 32 cm〈sup〉2〈/sup〉) is achieved by minimizing contact stresses, resulting in a preferred in-plane and out-of-plane crystal orientation, and is driven by surface energy minimization during the rotation of the crystal lattice followed by ‘consumption’ of neighboring grains. Industrial scale production of single-crystal metal foils is possible from this discovery.〈/p〉
Print ISSN:
0036-8075
Electronic ISSN:
1095-9203
Topics:
Natural Sciences in General