Structural instability of ultrafine particles of metals
Abstract
Dynamic behavior of ultrafine particles of gold around 20 Å in size was examined at the level of the atomic resolution by an electron microscope equipped with a real-time video recording system. In real time, it was observed that the shape of the particles changed continually through an internal transformation from a single crystal to a twinned crystal, and vice versa. The transformations were induced to some extent by the irradiation of the electron beam. They took place abruptly in less than 0.1 sec.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- February 1986
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.56.616
- Bibcode:
- 1986PhRvL..56..616I
- Keywords:
-
- Crystal Structure;
- Electron Microscopy;
- Gold;
- Metal Particles;
- Microparticles;
- Atomic Structure;
- Electron Irradiation;
- Single Crystals;
- Twinning;
- Solid-State Physics;
- 64.70.Kb;
- 61.16.Di;
- 81.30.Hd;
- Solid-solid transitions;
- Constant-composition solid-solid phase transformations: polymorphic massive and order-disorder