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Pressure-induced switching between amorphization and crystallization in PbTe nanoparticles

Pressure-induced switching between amorphization and crystallization in PbTe nanoparticles

Authors :
Zewei Quan
Yuxuan Wang
Zhongwu Wang
Zhiping Luo
Hongwu Xu
Jiye Fang
Chenyu Wang
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.

Details

ISSN :
15306992
Volume :
13
Issue :
8
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Nano letters
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....ce4a04410db8eec410cd32a8577cd77d