Liquid-like pseudoelasticity of sub-10-nm crystalline silver particles
Source abstract
Abstract
In nanotechnology, small-volume metals with large surface area are used as electrodes, catalysts, interconnects and antennae. Their shape stability at room temperature has, however, been questioned. Using in situ high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, we find that Ag nanoparticles can be deformed like a liquid droplet but remain highly crystalline in the interior, with no sign of dislocation activity during deformation. Surface-diffusion-mediated pseudoelastic deformation is evident at room temperature, which can be driven by either an external force or capillary-energy minimization. Atomistic simulations confirm that such highly unusual Coble pseudoelasticity can indeed happen for sub-10-nm Ag particles at room temperature and at timescales from seconds to months.
Source: europepmc · Quality: candidate unverified · Source record ↗
Research context
OpenAlex topics: nanoparticles nucleation surface interactions · Theoretical and Computational Physics · Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis and Applications
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
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