Physical response of gold nanoparticles to single self-ion bombardment

Journal Article · Tue Sep 23 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Journal of Materials Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2014.259· OSTI ID:1145717

Bufford, Daniel C. ^[1]; Hattar, Khalid ^[1]

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1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

The reliability of nanomaterials depends on maintaining their specific sizes and structures. However, the stability of many nanomaterials in radiation environments remains uncertain due to the lack of a fully developed fundamental understanding of the radiation response on the nanoscale. To provide an insight into the dynamic aspects of single ion effects in nanomaterials, gold nanoparticles (NPs) with nominal diameters of 5, 20, and 60 nm were subjected to self-ion irradiation at energies of 46 keV, 2.8 MeV, and 10 MeV in situ inside of a transmission electron microscope. Ion interactions created a variety of far-from-equilibrium structures including small (~1 nm) sputtered nanoclusters from the parent NPs of all sizes. Single ions created surface bumps and elongated nanofilaments in the 60 nm NPs. As a result, similar shape changes were observed in the 20 nm nanoparticles, while the 5 nm nanoparticles were transiently melted or explosively broken apart.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 1145717
• Report Number(s): SAND--2014-4271J; PII: S0884291414002593
• Journal Information: Journal of Materials Research, Journal Name: Journal of Materials Research Journal Issue: 20 Vol. 29; ISSN 0884-2914; ISSN applab
• Publisher: Materials Research Society
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY