Pipetting Nanowires: In Situ Visualization of Solid-State Nanowire-to-Nanoparticle Transformation Driven by Surface Diffusion-Mediated Capillarity
Pipetting Nanowires: In Situ Visualization of Solid-State Nanowire-to-Nanoparticle Transformation Driven by Surface Diffusion-Mediated Capillarity
Toimil-Molares, M. E.; Röntzsch, L.; Sigle, W.; Heinig, K.-H.; Trautmann, C.; Neumann, R.
Abstract
The most interesting applications of nanotubes include their use as storage media for atoms and small molecules, as nanoscale capsules for chemical reactions, and as nanopipettes for material delivery. The geometrical transformation of metallic copper nanowires, confined in graphitic coating, into crystalline nanoparticles of up to tenfold increased diameter is reported. In situ transmission electron microscopy images at 500 °C, recorded as movies, provide an exceptional real-time visualization of Cu draining out of the carbon coating. The solid content of the carbon tube is effectively evacuated over micrometer distances towards the open end, transforming each nanowire into a single monocrystalline, facetted Cu particle. Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations propose that this dramatic morphological transformation is driven by surface diffusion of Cu atoms along the wire/tube interface, thus minimizing the total free energy of the system.
Keywords: Nanowires; Capillarity; Swift Heavy Ions; kinetic Monte Carlo Simulations; Carbon Nanotubes; TEM
Beteiligte Forschungsanlagen
- Ionenstrahlzentrum DOI: 10.17815/jlsrf-3-159
Verknüpfte Publikationen
- DOI: 10.17815/jlsrf-3-159 is cited by this (Id 18305) publication
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Advanced Functional Materials 22(2012), 695-701
DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201102260
Cited 13 times in Scopus
Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-18305