Electron beam induced evolution in Au, Ag, and interfaced heterogeneous Au/Ag nanoparticles
Sintering and sublimation process of nanoparticles made of Ag, Au, and interfaced Ag/Au heterodimers has been investigated by in-situ transmission electron microscopy at room temperature. Such process is driven by the illumination of high-energy electron beam accelerated at 200kV that promotes atom diffusion in the physically contacted nanoparticles. Upon electron illumination, adjacent Au nanoparticles gradually merge together to form a larger particle along with the reduction of surface area despite that orientated attachment is not observed. The nanoparticle fusion process is significantly different from the well-established thermal diffusion mechanism. In addition to the similar fusion process, Ag nanoparticles undergo apparent sublimation because the transferred energy from electron beam to nanoparticles is higher than the surface binding energy of Ag atoms when the electron scattering angle is larger than 112°. The electron beam illumination can transform the interfaced Au/Ag dimers to Au@Ag core-shell particles followed by a slow sublimation of the Ag shells. Both diffusion and sublimation of Ag atoms are dependent on the intensity of electron beam, i.e., higher beam intensity is favorable to accelerate both process.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-06CH11357
- OSTI ID:
- 1391958
- Journal Information:
- Nanoscale, Vol. 7, Issue 32; ISSN 2040-3364
- Publisher:
- Royal Society of Chemistry
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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