Oriented attachment is the key: Single crystalline ZnO nanorods with lengths up to 500 nm could be prepared in a stepwise manner from quasi-spherical nanoparticles. Only after the formation of pearl-chain-like structures (left), do the aggregated particles fuse upon heating to form nanorods (center and right).
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Pacholski et al. (2002) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: