Zn nanodot patterning in borosilicate glasses by electron irradiation. Issue 12 (21st May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mohammed Sabri, Mohammed; Hand, Russell J.; Möbus, Günter
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials research. Volume 30:Issue 12(2015)
• Page Start: 1914
• Page End: 1924
• Publication Date: 2015-05-21
• Subjects: Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; 620.1105
• DOI: 10.1557/jmr.2015.122
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0884-2914

Abstract

Abstract: Abstract : Metallic zinc nanoparticles are generated in two compositional ranges of borosilicate glasses upon 200 and 300 keV electron beam irradiation in a transmission electron microscope. Irradiation effects are studied either with a stationary electron beam as a time series or with spatially varying beams for line-scan patterning. The size of the zinc nanodots formed is inversely related to the distance from the center of the electron beam, and growth from 5 to 50 nm over time via ripening can be observed. Line-scan patterning via both thermal gun and field emission gun electron irradiation has been successfully achieved. Our findings also show the occurrence of self-organized particle ordering, such as formation of chains. Metal nanoparticles have a tendency to migrate toward the glass fragment center, unless high intensity radiation ablates the glass matrix, when Zn particles remain decorating the surface. High-resolution lattice imaging, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and electron energy loss spectroscopy are used to confirm particle identity.