One route for low dimensional oxide design: understanding their complexity.

The design of new architectures and the optimization of particular properties need detailed knowledge of the real crystalline state and structural mechanisms of the materials. In this feature article, we intend to illustrate how combination of two complementary techniques, high resolution electron microscopy (HREM) and beam diffraction techniques (electrons, X-rays, neutrons), is efficient. Three examples of low dimensional oxides are presented, focussing our attention on the existence of successive ‘structural’ levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]