The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Default user image.

Martin Magnusson

deputy head of department

Default user image.

Observation of the molten state of nano-particles with an atomic force microscope

Author

  • Carl Kortegaard
  • Knut Deppert
  • S. Ismail
  • T. Junno
  • H. Larne
  • Martin Magnusson
  • Claes Thelander
  • Lars Samuelson

Summary, in English

An atomic force microscope was used to directly examine the physical state of nanometer-sized particles. The critical diameter of indium particles, where evidence of melting at room temperature was observed, was 7.8±1.2 nm. This conclusion is based on a method relying on the manipulation of particles in ambient air and at constant temperature. This method involves a simple set up that permits a combination of both manipulation and imaging of individual particles. To determine whether a particle is molten, three criteria are used: the merging of particles to form bigger spherical particles, a tip-induced shape change and the formation of nanofibres. All three criteria have been checked using other particle materials. The use of the atomic force microscope to determine whether a nanoparticle is molten, is however complicated by oxidation

Department/s

  • Solid State Physics

Publishing year

2002

Language

English

Publication/Series

7th International Conference on Nanometer-Scale Science and Technology and 21st European Conference on Surface Science

Document type

Conference paper

Publisher

Lund University

Topic

  • Condensed Matter Physics

Keywords

  • 6.6 to 9 nm
  • 293 to 298 K
  • nanoparticles
  • In
  • molten state
  • physical state
  • atomic force microscopy
  • indium particles
  • nanometer sized particles
  • critical diameter
  • room temperature
  • spherical particles
  • oxidation
  • tip induced shape change

Conference name

Proceedings of 7th International Conference on Nanometer-Scale Science and Technology and 21st European Conference on Surface Science (NANO-7/ECOSS-21)

Conference date

2002-06-24 - 2002-06-28

Conference place

Malmö, Sweden

Status

Published