▁cer am ics ▁from ▁bulk ▁prec urs ors , ▁mechanical ▁attr ition , ▁cry st all ization ▁from ▁the ▁am orph ous ▁state , ▁and ▁phase ▁separation ▁are ▁used ▁to ▁create ▁nan oph ase ▁cer am ics . ▁ ▁Syn thes izing ▁nan oph ase ▁cer am ics ▁from ▁atomic ▁or ▁mole cular ▁prec urs ors ▁are ▁desired ▁more ▁because ▁a ▁greater ▁control ▁over ▁micro scop ic ▁aspects ▁of ▁the ▁nan oph ase ▁cer am ic ▁can ▁occur . ▁ ▁Gas ▁Cond ens ation ▁Gas ▁cond ens ation ▁is ▁one ▁way ▁nan oph ase ▁cer am ics ▁are ▁produced . ▁ ▁First , ▁prec ursor ▁cer am ics ▁are ▁ev apor ated ▁from ▁sources ▁within ▁a ▁gas - cond ens ation ▁chamber . ▁ ▁Then ▁the ▁cer am ics ▁are ▁cond ensed ▁in ▁a ▁gas ▁( dependent ▁on ▁the ▁material ▁being ▁synth es ized ) ▁and ▁transport ed ▁via ▁con ve ction ▁to ▁a ▁liquid - nit ro gen ▁filled ▁cold ▁finger . ▁ ▁Next , ▁the ▁cer am ic ▁pow ders ▁are ▁sc rap ed ▁off ▁the ▁cold ▁finger ▁and ▁collect ▁in ▁a ▁fun nel ▁below ▁the ▁cold ▁finger . ▁ ▁The ▁cer am ic ▁pow ders ▁then ▁become ▁cons olid ated ▁in ▁a ▁low - press ure ▁comp action ▁device ▁and ▁then ▁in ▁a ▁high - press ure ▁comp action ▁device . ▁ ▁This ▁all ▁occurs ▁in ▁a ▁vac u um , ▁so ▁no ▁imp ur ities ▁can ▁enter ▁the ▁chamber ▁and ▁affect ▁the ▁results ▁of ▁the ▁nan oph ase ▁cer