Back to Search
Start Over
Pressure-induced switching between amorphization and crystallization in PbTe nanoparticles
Pressure-induced switching between amorphization and crystallization in PbTe nanoparticles
- Source :
- Nano letters. 13(8)
- Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- Combining in situ high-pressure X-ray scattering with transmission electron microscopy, we investigated the pressure-induced structural switches between the rock salt and amorphous phases as well as the associated mechanisms of their crystallization and growth in 6 nm PbTe nanocrystal. It was observed that rock salt PbTe nanocrystal started to become amorphous above 10 GPa and then underwent a low-to-high density amorphous phase transformation at pressures over 15 GPa. The low-density amorphous phase exhibited a structural memory of the rock salt phase, as manifested by a backward transformation to the rock salt phase via single nucleation inside each nanoparticle upon the release of pressure. In contrast, the high-density amorphous phase remained stable and could be preserved at ambient conditions. In addition, electron beam-induced heating could drive a recrystallization of the rock salt phase on the recovered amorphous nanoparticles. These studies provide significant insights into structural mechanisms for pressure-induced switching between amorphous and crystalline phases as well as their associated growth processes.
- Subjects :
- Recrystallization (geology)
Materials science
Mechanical Engineering
Nucleation
Nanoparticle
Bioengineering
General Chemistry
Condensed Matter Physics
law.invention
Amorphous solid
Crystallography
Chemical engineering
Nanocrystal
Transmission electron microscopy
law
Phase (matter)
General Materials Science
Crystallization
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 15306992
- Volume :
- 13
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Nano letters
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....ce4a04410db8eec410cd32a8577cd77d