In situ conversion of nanostructures from solid to hollow in transmission electron microscopes using electron beam

In Situ Electron Microscopy of Transformations of Copper Nanoparticles under Plasmonic Excitation

Metal nanoparticles are attracting interest for their light-absorption properties, but such materials are known to dynamically evolve under the action of chemical and physical perturbations, resulting in changes in their structure and composition. Using a transmission electron microscope equipped for optical excitation of the specimen, the structural evolution of Cu-based nanoparticles under simultaneous electron beam irradiation and plasmonic excitation was investigated with high spatiotemporal resolution. These nanoparticles initially have a Cu core-Cu₂O oxide shell structure, but over the course of imaging, they undergo hollowing via the nanoscale Kirkendall effect. We captured the nucleation of a void within the core, which then rapidly grows along specific crystallographic directions until the core is hollowed out. Hollowing is triggered by electron-beam irradiation; plasmonic excitation enhances the kinetics of the transformation likely by the effect of photothermal heating.

Controllable fabrication of hollow In2O3 nanoparticles by electron beam irradiation

A growth strategy is presented for controllable fabrication of hollow In₂O₃ nanoparticles (NPs) via oxidation of In nanocrystals under electron beam irradiation. The morphology of the NPs can be tailored by changing the electron beam energy and current density. Yolk-shell NPs are preferentially formed under 200 keV electron beam irradiation, while hollow NPs are preferentially formed at 300 keV. This work confirms that electron beam irradiation is a valuable method for the engineering and modification of nanomaterials.

Metal/semiconductor interfaces in nanoscale objects: synthesis, emerging properties and applications of hybrid nanostructures

Hybrid nanostructures, composed of multi-component crystals of various shapes, sizes and compositions are much sought-after functional materials. Pairing the ability to tune each material separately and controllably combine two (or more) domains with defined spatial orientation results in new properties. In this review, we discuss the various synthetic mechanisms for the formation of hybrid nanostructures of various complexities containing at least one metal/semiconductor interface, with a focus on colloidal chemistry. Different synthetic approaches, alongside the underlying kinetic and thermodynamic principles are discussed, and future advancement prospects are evaluated. Furthermore, the proved unique properties are reviewed with emphasis on the connection between the synthetic method and the resulting physical, chemical and optical properties with applications in fields such as photocatalysis.

Heterogeneous growth of palladium nanocrystals on upconversion nanoparticles for multimodal imaging and photothermal therapy

Based on the heterogeneous growth of nano-palladium on UCNPs, a new kind of nanocomposite was developed that can be used for dual-imaging guided photothermal therapy. This smart strategy provides new insights for future development of materials based on the multicomponent nanocomposites.

Interfacial Defects Dictated In Situ Fabrication of Yolk-Shell Upconversion Nanoparticles by Electron-Beam Irradiation

Homogeneous core-shell structured nanoparticles (NPs) are prevailingly designed to accommodate lanthanide emitters, and such an epitaxial shell deposited on core NP is generally believed to help eliminate surface traps or defects on the as-prepared core. However, upon electron-beam irradiation to core-shell-shell NaLuF4:Gd/Yb/Er@NaLuF4:Nd/Yb@NaLuF4 upconversion NPs (UCNPs), it is revealed that interfacial defects actually exist at the core-shell and shell-shell interfaces, even with a higher density than the bulk-phase defects in inner core. Because of such higher density of interfacial defects, the kinetic energies transferred from energetic electrons to atoms may trigger the faster Na/F atom ejections and outward atom migrations in the coating layers than in the inner core of NPs, which ultimately results in the in situ formation of novel yolk-shell UCNPs. These findings provide new insights into interfacial defects in homogeneous core-shell structured NaLnF4 NPs, and pave the way toward utilizing the interactions of high-energy particles with materials for in situ fabrication of novel nanostructures.

A Novel Domain-Confined Growth Strategy for In Situ Controllable Fabrication of Individual Hollow Nanostructures

The manipulation and tailoring of the structure and properties of semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) is significant particularly for the design and fabrication of future nanodevices. Here, a novel domain-confined growth strategy is reported for controllable fabrication of individual monocrystal hollow NCs (h-NCs) in situ inside a transmission electron microscope, which enables the atomic scale monitoring of the entire reaction. During the process, the preformed carbon shells serve as nanoreaction cells for the formation of CdSeS h-NCs. Electron beam (e-beam) irradiation is demonstrated to be the key activation factor for the solid-to-hollow shape transformation. The formation of CdSeS hollow NCs is also found to be sensitive to the volume ratio of the CdSe/CdS NCs to the carbon shell and only those CdSe/CdS NCs with a volume ratio in the range 0.2-0.8 are successfully converted into hollow NCs. The method paves the way to potentially use an e-beam for the in situ tailoring of individual semiconductor NCs targeted toward future nanodevice applications.

In Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy Characterization and Manipulation of Two-Dimensional Layered Materials beyond Graphene

Two-dimensional (2D) ultra-thin materials beyond graphene with rich physical properties and unique layered structures are promising for applications in electronics, chemistry, energy, and bioscience, etc. The interaction mechanisms among the structures, chemical compositions and physical properties of 2D layered materials are critical for fundamental nanosciences and the practical fabrication of next-generation nanodevices. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), with its high spatial resolution and versatile external fields, is undoubtedly a powerful tool for the static characterization and dynamic manipulation of nanomaterials and nanodevices at the atomic scale. The rapid development of thin-film and precision microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) techniques allows 2D layered materials and nanodevices to be probed and engineered inside TEM under external stimuli such as thermal, electrical, mechanical, liquid/gas environmental, optical, and magnetic fields at the nanoscale. Such advanced technologies leverage the traditional static TEM characterization into an in situ and interactive manipulation of 2D layered materials without sacrificing the resolution or the high vacuum chamber environment, facilitating exploration of the intrinsic structure-property relationship of 2D layered materials. In this Review, the dynamic properties tailored and observed by the most advanced and unprecedented in situ TEM technology are introduced. The challenges in spatial, time and energy resolution are discussed also.

Considerable knock-on displacement of metal atoms under a low energy electron beam

Under electron beam irradiation, knock-on atomic displacement is commonly thought to occur only when the incident electron energy is above the incident-energy threshold of the material in question. However, we report that when exposed to intense electrons at room temperature at a low incident energy of 30 keV, which is far below the theoretically predicted incident-energy threshold of zirconium, Zircaloy-4 (Zr-1.50Sn-0.25Fe-0.15Cr (wt.%)) surfaces can undergo considerable displacement damage. We demonstrate that electron beam irradiation of the bulk Zircaloy-4 surface resulted in a striking radiation effect that nanoscale precipitates within the surface layer gradually emerged and became clearly visible with increasing the irradiation time. Our transmission electron microscope (TEM) observations further reveal that electron beam irradiation of the thin-film Zircaly-4 surface caused the sputtering of surface α-Zr atoms, the nanoscale atomic restructuring in the α-Zr matrix, and the amorphization of precipitates. These results are the first direct evidences suggesting that displacement of metal atoms can be induced by a low incident electron energy below threshold. The presented way to irradiate may be extended to other materials aiming at producing appealing properties for applications in fields of nanotechnology, surface technology, and others.

Structural and Magnetic Properties of Nanopowders and Coatings of Carbon-Doped Zinc Oxide Prepared by Pulsed Electron Beam Evaporation

With the help of electron beam evaporation of mechanical mixtures of nonmagnetic micron powders ZnO and carbon in vacuum with the subsequent annealing of evaporation products in air at the temperature of 773 K, single-phase crystal nanopowders ZnO-C were produced with the hexagonal wurtzite structure and low content of the carbon dopant not exceeding 0.25 wt%. It was established that doping ZnO with carbon stimulates primary growth of nanoparticles along the direction 0001 in the coatings. Nanocrystal growth in coatings occurs in the same way as crystal growth in thin films, with growth anisotropy in the c-axis direction in wurtzite ZnO. Element mapping has confirmed homogeneous distribution of carbon in ZnO lattice. Ferromagnetism of single-phase crystal nanopowders ZnO-C with the hexagonal wurtzite structure and low content of the carbon dopant not exceeding 0.25 wt% was produced at room temperature. Ferromagnetic response of the doped NP ZnO-C has exceeded the ferromagnetic response of pure NP ZnO 5 times. The anhysteretic form of magnetization curves NP ZnO-C indicates aspiration of samples to superparamagnetism manifestation.

Direct nanopatterning of polymer/silver nanoblocks under low energy electron beam irradiation

In this communication, we report on the growth, direct writing and nanopatterning of polymer/silver nanoblocks under low energy electron beam irradiation using a scanning electron microscope. The nanoblocks are produced by placing a droplet of an ethylene glycol solution containing silver nitrate and polyvinylpyrrolidone diluted in ethanol directly on a hot substrate heated up to 150 °C. Upon complete evaporation of the droplet, nanospheres, nano- and micro-triangles and nanoblocks made of silver-containing polymers, form over the substrate surface. Considering the nanoblocks as a model system, we demonstrate that such nanostructures are extremely sensitive to the e-beam extracted from the source of a scanning electron microscope operating at low acceleration voltages (between 5 and 7 kV). This sensitivity allows us to efficiently create various nanopatterns (e.g. arrays of holes, oblique slits and nanotrenches) in the material under e-beam irradiation. In addition to the possibility of writing, the nanoblocks revealed a self-healing ability allowing them to recover a relatively smooth surface after etching. Thanks to these properties, such nanomaterials can be used as a support for data writing and erasing on the nanoscale under low energy electron beam irradiation.

Influence of electron beam irradiation on structural and optical properties of α-Ag2WO4 nanoparticles

The influence of 8MeV electron beam irradiation on the structural and optical properties of silver tungstate (α-Ag2WO4) nanoparticles synthesized by chemical precipitation method was investigated. The dose dependent effect of electron irradiation was investigated by various characterization techniques such as, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence and Raman spectroscopy. Systematic studies confirm that electron beam irradiation induces non-stoichiometry, defects and particle size variation on α-Ag2WO4, which in turn results changes in optical band gap, photoluminescence spectra and Raman bands.