Shape transformation of Pt nanoparticles induced by swift heavy-ion irradiation

R. Giulian*, P. Kluth, L. L. Araujo, D. J. Sprouster, A. P. Byrne, D. J. Cookson, M. C. Ridgway

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    83 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Pt nanoparticles (NPs) formed by ion-beam synthesis in amorphous SiO2 were irradiated with Au ions in the energy range of 27-185 MeV. Small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize an irradiation-induced shape transformation within the NPs. A simple yet effective way of analyzing the SAXS data to determine both NP dimensions is presented. A transformation from spherical to rodlike shape with increasing irradiation fluence was observed for NPs larger than an energy-dependent threshold diameter, which varied from 4.0 to 6.5 nm over 27-185 MeV. NPs smaller than this threshold diameter remained spherical upon irradiation but decreased in size as a result of dissolution. The latter was more pronounced for the smallest particles. The minor dimension of the transformed NPs saturated at an energy-dependent value comparable to the threshold diameter for elongation. The saturated minor dimension was less than the diameter of the irradiation-induced molten track within the matrix. We demonstrate that Pt NPs of diameter 13 nm reach saturation of the minor dimension beyond a total-energy deposition into the matrix of 20 keV/ nm3.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number125413
    JournalPhysical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
    Volume78
    Issue number12
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 17 Sept 2008

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