Disket-Nanorings of K₂Ti₆O₁₃ Formed by Self-Spiraling of a Nanobelt

Single-crystal K2Ti6O13 nanorings were prepared by molten salt synthesis. The nanoring is formed by loop-by-loop winding of a K2Ti6O13 nanobelt by coherently matching the lattice at the edges of the nanobelt in the same plane. The driving force for such a perfect match at the edges is suggested to minimize the local electrostatic energy introduced by the cations and anions.