Atomic-Force Thermodilatometry of Two-Dimensional Ensembles of Nanoparticles

Atomic-force thermodilatometry is used to investigate the change in the morphology of two-dimensional ensembles of iron metal-oxide nanoparticles obtained by reactive evaporation and subsequent programmable low-temperature (20–160°C) annealing. It is shown that when ensembles of nanoparticles are annealed, thermal shrinkage occurs (up to 25% of the volume) due to dehydration, oxidation and possible coalescence and spreading by a viscous flow mechanism.