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Title: In-situ transmission electron microscopy growth of nanoparticles under extreme conditions

Journal Article · · Journal of Applied Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4940158· OSTI ID:22494931
; ; ;  [1];  [2];  [1]
  1. Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970 (Brazil)
  2. Centre de Spectrométrie Nucléaire et de Spectrométrie de Masse (CSNSM), CNRS-IN2P3-Université Paris-Sud, 91405 Orsay-Campus (France)

The formation and time resolved behavior of individual Pb nanoparticles embedded in silica have been studied by in-situ transmission electron microscopy observations at high temperatures (400–1100 °C) and under 200 keV electron irradiation. It is shown that under such extreme conditions, nanoparticles can migrate at long distances presenting a Brownian-like behavior and eventually coalesce. The particle migration phenomenon is discussed considering the influence of the thermal energy and the electron irradiation effects on the atomic diffusion process which is shown to control particle migration. These results and comparison with ex-situ experiments tackle the stability and the microstructure evolution of nanoparticles systems under extreme conditions. It elucidates on the effects of energetic particle irradiation-annealing treatments either as a tool or as a detrimental issue that could hamper their long-term applications in radiation-harsh environments such as in space or nuclear sectors.

OSTI ID:
22494931
Journal Information:
Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 119, Issue 3; Other Information: (c) 2016 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English