A strategy to prepare wafer scale bismuth compound superstructures.

Epitaxial wafer scale superstructures of bismuth compounds are synthesized. Single crystalline β-Bi2O3 films are obtained by sputtering amorphous BiOx onto (001)-oriented strontium titanate with a buffer layer, followed by thermal crystallization. This is used as the precursor for the growth of the superstructures. The superstructures of bismuth compounds reveal anisotropic physical properties that are related to their unique morphology.