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Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Atomically Traceable Nanostructure Fabrication
Published on: July 17, 2015
Toward Single Atom Chains with Exfoliated Tellurium
Hugh O H Churchill1,2, Gregory J Salamo3,4, Shui-Qing Yu4,5
1Department of Physics, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA. churchill@uark.edu.
Abstract:
We demonstrate that the atom chain structure of Te allows it to be exfoliated as ultra-thin flakes and nanowires. Atomic force microscopy of exfoliated Te shows that thicknesses of 1-2 nm and widths below 100 nm can be exfoliated with this method. The Raman modes of exfoliated Te match those of bulk Te, with a slight shift (4 cm-1) due to a hardening of the A1 and E modes. Polarized Raman spectroscopy is used to determine the crystal orientation of exfoliated Te flakes. These experiments establish exfoliation as a route to achieve nanoscale trigonal Te while also demonstrating the potential for fabrication of single atom chains of Te.
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