Transmission Electron Microscope-Induced Structural Evolution in Amorphous Fe, Co, and Ni Oxide Nanoparticles

The high-energy electron beams in transmission electron microscopes (TEM) are known to cause structural changes and damage in some materials. In this paper, we describe unique and reproducible TEM-induced changes to the morphology of amorphous metal oxide (Fe, Co, and Ni) nanoparticles. The studied...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Langmuir 2008-12, Vol.24 (24), p.14195-14202
Main Authors: Latham, Andrew H, Williams, Mary Elizabeth
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chemistry
Cobalt - chemistry
Colloidal state and disperse state
Exact sciences and technology
Ferric Compounds - chemistry
General and physical chemistry
Materials: Nano-and Mesostructured Materials, Polymers, Gels, Liquid Crystals, Composites
Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry
Metal Nanoparticles - ultrastructure
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
Nickel - chemistry
Oxidation-Reduction
Oxides - chemistry
Particle Size
Physical and chemical studies. Granulometry. Electrokinetic phenomena
Porosity
Surface physical chemistry
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Summary:The high-energy electron beams in transmission electron microscopes (TEM) are known to cause structural changes and damage in some materials. In this paper, we describe unique and reproducible TEM-induced changes to the morphology of amorphous metal oxide (Fe, Co, and Ni) nanoparticles. The studied particles were synthesized via literature methods and fully characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and time-resolved, low-dose TEM. As a result of electron beam irradiation, we observe these particles to transform from initially solid spheres to core/void/shell structures and eventually to hollow nanoparticles. The rate of these transformations depends on the size and composition of the particles but is not unique to the Fe oxide we previously reported. These data suggest that structural analysis of nanoparticles by TEM must consider the impact of the high-energy electron beam and use low-dose imaging.
ISSN:0743-7463
1520-5827
DOI:10.1021/la7035423