Observation of the molten state of nano-particles with an atomic force microscope
Author
Summary, in English
An atomic force microscope was used to directly examine the physical state of nanometer-sized particles. The critical diameter of indium particles, where evidence of melting at room temperature was observed, was 7.8±1.2 nm. This conclusion is based on a method relying on the manipulation of particles in ambient air and at constant temperature. This method involves a simple set up that permits a combination of both manipulation and imaging of individual particles. To determine whether a particle is molten, three criteria are used: the merging of particles to form bigger spherical particles, a tip-induced shape change and the formation of nanofibres. All three criteria have been checked using other particle materials. The use of the atomic force microscope to determine whether a nanoparticle is molten, is however complicated by oxidation
Department/s
Publishing year
2002
Language
English
Publication/Series
7th International Conference on Nanometer-Scale Science and Technology and 21st European Conference on Surface Science
Document type
Conference paper
Publisher
Lund University
Topic
- Condensed Matter Physics
Keywords
- 6.6 to 9 nm
- 293 to 298 K
- nanoparticles
- In
- molten state
- physical state
- atomic force microscopy
- indium particles
- nanometer sized particles
- critical diameter
- room temperature
- spherical particles
- oxidation
- tip induced shape change
Conference name
Proceedings of 7th International Conference on Nanometer-Scale Science and Technology and 21st European Conference on Surface Science (NANO-7/ECOSS-21)
Conference date
2002-06-24 - 2002-06-28
Conference place
Malmö, Sweden
Status
Published