In situ investigation of bismuth nanoparticles formation by transmission electron microscope

Liming Liu; Honghang Wang; Zichuan Yi; Quanrong Deng; Zhidong Lin; Xiaowen Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.micron.2017.11.008

In situ investigation of bismuth nanoparticles formation by transmission electron microscope

Micron. 2018 Feb:105:30-34. doi: 10.1016/j.micron.2017.11.008. Epub 2017 Nov 21.

Authors

Liming Liu¹, Honghang Wang¹, Zichuan Yi¹, Quanrong Deng², Zhidong Lin³, Xiaowen Zhang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Zhongshan Branch of State Key Laboratory of Electronic Thin Films and Integrated Devices, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Zhongshan Institute, Zhongshan 528402, PR China.
² Hubei Key Laboratory of Plasma Chemistry and Advanced Materials, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430073, PR China.
³ Hubei Key Laboratory of Plasma Chemistry and Advanced Materials, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430073, PR China. Electronic address: zhidong.lin@126.com.
⁴ School of Materials Science and Engineering & Guangxi Key Laboratory of Information Materials, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin 541004, PR China. Electronic address: zhang-xiaowen@163.com.

PMID: 29175448
DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2017.11.008

Abstract

Bismuth (Bi) nanoparticles are prepared by using NaBi(MoO₄)₂ nanosheets in the beam of electrons emitted by transmission electron microscope. The formation and growth of Bi nanoparticles are investigated in situ. The sizes of Bi nanoparticles are confined within the range of 6-10nm by controlling irradiation time. It is also observed that once the diameter of nanoparticles is larger than 10nm, the Bi particles are stable as a result of the immobility of large nanoparticles. In addition, some nanoparticles on the edges form nanorods, which are explained as the result of a coalescence process, if the irradiation period is longer than 10min. The in situ research on Bi nanoparticles facilitates in-depth investigations of the physicochemical behavior and provides more potential applications in various fields such as sensors, catalysts and optical devices.

Keywords: Bismuth nanoparticle; Electron irradiation; In situ investigation; Transmission electron microscope.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't