Abstract
Extended X-ray absorption fine structure and Raman spectroscopies have been used to compare the crystalline-to-amorphous phase transformation in nanocrystalline and polycrystalline Ge. We demonstrate Ge nanocrystals are extremely sensitive to ion irradiation and are rendered amorphous at an ion dose ∼40 times less than that required to amorphise bulk, crystalline standards. This rapid amorphisation is attributed to the higher-energy nanocrystalline structural state prior to irradiation, inhibited Frenkel pair recombination when Ge interstitials are recoiled into the matrix and preferential nucleation of the amorphous phase at the nanocrystal/matrix interface.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 121-124 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms |
| Volume | 242 |
| Issue number | 1-2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2006 |