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Title: Equilibrium Cu-Ag nanoalloy structure formation revealed by in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy heating experiments

Journal Article · · APL Materials
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4866052· OSTI ID:22269556
; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Sandia National Laboratories, PO Box 5800, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185 (United States)

Using in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy heating experiments, we observed the formation of a 3-dimensional (3D) epitaxial Cu-core and Ag-shell equilibrium structure of a Cu-Ag nanoalloy. The structure was formed during the thermal interaction of Cu(∼12 nm) and Ag NPs(∼6 nm) at elevated temperatures (150–300 °C) by the Ag NPs initially wetting the Cu NP along its (111) surfaces at one or multiple locations forming epitaxial Ag/Cu (111) interfaces, followed by Ag atoms diffusing along the Cu surface. This phenomenon was confirmed through Monte Carlo simulations to be a nanoscale effect related to the large surface-to-volume ratio of the NPs.

OSTI ID:
22269556
Journal Information:
APL Materials, Vol. 2, Issue 2; Other Information: (c) 2014 Author(s); Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 2166-532X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English