Nanostructure Fabrication Based on Spontaneous Formation Mechanisms

The recent progress of nanostructure fabrication technology based on spontaneous formation mechanisms is reviewed. Low-dimensional structures, i.e., 2-D crystal planes, 1-D crystal wires and 0-D quantum dots, have been successfully fabricated with atomic-scale accuracy. Electrical and optical properties prove that carrier confinement is realized in such mesoscopic structures. The new possibilities that are expected to open up for quantum functional devices are also discussed.