In situ Transmission Electron Microscopy of Solid–Liquid Phase Transition of Silica Encapsulated Bismuth Nanoparticles

Author(s)

Jianjun Hu, University of DaytonFollow
Yan Hong, University of Central Florida
Christopher Muratore, University of DaytonFollow
Ming Su, University of Central Florida
Andrey A. Voevodin, Air Force Research Laboratory

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2011

Publication Source

Nanoscale

Abstract

The solid–liquid phase transition of silica encapsulated bismuth nanoparticles was studied by in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The nanoparticles were prepared by a two-step chemical synthesis process involving thermal decomposition of organometallic precursors for nucleating bismuth and a sol–gel process for growing silica. The microstructural and chemical analyses of the nanoparticles were performed using high-resolution TEM, Z-contrast imaging, focused ion beam milling, and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy. Solid–liquid–solid phase transitions of the nanoparticles were directly recorded by electron diffractions and TEM images. The silica encapsulation of the nanoparticles prevented agglomeration and allowed particles to preserve their original volume upon melting, which is desirable for applications of phase changenanoparticles with consistently repeatable thermal properties.

Inclusive pages

3700-3704

ISBN/ISSN

2040-3364

Copyright

Copyright © 2011, Royal Society of Chemistry

Publisher

Royal Society of Chemistry

Volume

3

Peer Reviewed

yes

eCommons Citation

Hu, Jianjun; Hong, Yan; Muratore, Christopher; Su, Ming; and Voevodin, Andrey A., "In situ Transmission Electron Microscopy of Solid–Liquid Phase Transition of Silica Encapsulated Bismuth Nanoparticles" (2011). Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications. 105.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/cme_fac_pub/105