Synthesis of nanoparticles in helium droplets-A characterization comparing mass-spectra and electron microscopy data

Philipp Thaler; Alexander Volk; Daniel Knez; Florian Lackner; Georg Haberfehlner; Johannes Steurer; Martin Schnedlitz; Wolfgang E Ernst

doi:10.1063/1.4932182

Synthesis of nanoparticles in helium droplets-A characterization comparing mass-spectra and electron microscopy data

J Chem Phys. 2015 Oct 7;143(13):134201. doi: 10.1063/1.4932182.

Authors

Philipp Thaler¹, Alexander Volk¹, Daniel Knez², Florian Lackner¹, Georg Haberfehlner², Johannes Steurer¹, Martin Schnedlitz¹, Wolfgang E Ernst¹

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 16, A-8010 Graz, Austria.
² Institute for Electron Microscopy and Nanoanalysis & Graz Centre for Electron Microscopy, TU Graz, Steyrergasse 17, A-8010 Graz, Austria.

PMID: 26450307
DOI: 10.1063/1.4932182

Abstract

Micrometer sized helium droplets provide an extraordinary environment for the growth of nanoparticles. The method promises great potential for the preparation of core-shell particles as well as one-dimensional nanostructures, which agglomerate along quantum vortices, without involving solvents, ligands, or additives. Using a new apparatus, which enables us to record mass spectra of heavy dopant clusters (>10(4) amu) and to produce samples for transmission electron microscopy simultaneously, we synthesize bare and bimetallic nanoparticles consisting of various materials (Au, Ni, Cr, and Ag). We present a systematical study of the growth process of clusters and nanoparticles inside the helium droplets, which can be described with a simple theoretical model.