Polymorphic transformation of dense ZnO nanoparticles: Implications for chair/boat-type Peierls distortions of AB semiconductor

Peierls distortion path was proved experimentally for dense ZnO nanoparticles prepared by static compression. Electron irradiation caused rock salt (R) to wurtzite (W) transition, following preferential (1 (1) over bar1)(R) //(0 (1) over bar 11)(W); [011](R) //[(1) over bar2 (1) over bar3](W) and then transformation strain induced (11 (1) over bar)(R) //((1) over bar 011)(W); [011](R) //[01 (1) over bar1](W). The two relationships can be rationalized by specified extent of chair- and boat-type Peierls distortions accompanied with band gap opening and intermediate {111}(R) slip for energetically favorable {111}(R) /(0 (1) over bar 11)(W) match. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.