Atomic Resolution Imaging of Au Nanocluster Dispersed in TiO₂, SrTiO₃, and MgO

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2005 · Journal of the American Ceramic Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1551-2916.2005.00579.x· OSTI ID:978090

Wang, C. M. ^[1]; Shutthanandan, V. ^[1]; Zhang, Y. ^[1]; Thevuthasan, S. ^[1]; Duscher, Gerd J M ^[2]

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1. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
2. ORNL

Gold nanoclusters dispersed in single crystal TiO{sub 2}, MgO, and SrTiO{sub 3} have been prepared by ion implantation at 300-975 K and subsequent annealing at 1275 K for 10 h. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and high-angle annular dark field (HAADF) imaging in aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) have been used to characterize the microstructure of the gold nanoclusters dispersed materials. STEM-HAADF imaging with atomic resolution has directly revealed for all three materials that Au atoms partially occupy cation lattice positions. Cavities up to several tens of nanometers were observed in MgO and SrTiO{sub 3}. The cavities and gold clusters are spatially associated in MgO and SrTiO{sub 3}, indicating a strong interaction between the Au cluster and cavities. For MgO and SrTiO{sub 3}, the faceting planes appear to be the same for both nanometer-sized cavity and the Au cluster, demonstrating that both the surface energy and the interfacial energy between Au cluster and the matrix are lowest on these planes.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
• Sponsoring Organization: SC USDOE - Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 978090
• Journal Information: Journal of the American Ceramic Society, Journal Name: Journal of the American Ceramic Society Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 88; ISSN 0002-7820; ISSN JACTAW
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ANNEALING
ATOMS
CATIONS
CAVITIES
ELECTRON MICROSCOPES
GOLD
ION IMPLANTATION
MICROSTRUCTURE
MONOCRYSTALS
RESOLUTION
STRONG INTERACTIONS
SURFACE ENERGY
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY