Nanoscale chemical and structural characterization of transient metallic nanowires using aberration-corrected STEM-EELS

Nano Lett. 2012 Jun 13;12(6):2732-9. doi: 10.1021/nl204374v. Epub 2012 May 31.

Abstract

Direct chemical and structural characterization of transient iron-nickel alloy nanowires was performed at subnanometer spatial resolution using probe spherical aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron energy-loss spectroscopy. Nanowires with diameter less than 2 nm retaining their nominal bulk alloy composition were observed. In some cases, the nanowires were oxidized. Before rupture, a nanojunction as thin as three atoms in width could be imaged. The time-dependent structural analyses revealed the nanowire rupture mechanisms. It is found that the atoms on the {111} planes were the easiest to be removed by electron irradiation and fluctuations between low-energy and high-energy facets were observed. The hitherto unknown rich variety of structural and chemical behavior in alloyed magnetic nanojunctions should be considered for understanding their physical properties.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Materials Testing
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure*
  • Spectrum Analysis / methods*
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Macromolecular Substances