We have succeeded in growing a novel type of single crystal silicon. Silicon has a diamond structure in nature, but in this crystal the crystallographic orientation is reversed periodically. In order to grow the crystal, it is essential that surface structure be precisely controlled and crystallographic orientation be monitored. In general, physical properties of crystals depend on their crystalline structure. The growth of this novel single crystal silicon will make it possible to form heterojunctions from silicon alone.

=> Low-Dimensional Nanomaterials Research Group