Journal Article

PUBDB-2016-00577

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Imaging transient melting of a nanocrystal using an X-ray laser

Clark, J. (Corresponding author)CFEL*DESY* ; Beitra, L. ; Xiong, G. ; Fritz, D. M. ; Lemke, H. T. ; Zhu, D. ; Chollet, M. ; Williams, G. J. ; Messerschmidt, M. M. ; Abbey, B. ; Harder, R. J. ; Korsunsky, A. M. ; Wark, J. S. ; Reis, D. A. ; Robinson, I. K.

2015
National Acad. of Sciences Washington, DC

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1073/pnas.1417678112

Abstract: There is a fundamental interest in studying photoinduced dynamics in nanoparticles and nanostructures as it provides insight into their mechanical and thermal properties out of equilibrium and during phase transitions. Nanoparticles can display significantly different properties from the bulk, which is due to the interplay between their size, morphology, crystallinity, defect concentration, and surface properties. Particularly interesting scenarios arise when nanoparticles undergo phase transitions, such as melting induced by an optical laser. Current theoretical evidence suggests that nanoparticles can undergo reversible nonhomogenous melting with the formation of a core-shell structure consisting of a liquid outer layer. To date, studies from ensembles of nanoparticles have tentatively suggested that such mechanisms are present. Here we demonstrate imaging transient melting and softening of the acoustic phonon modes of an individual gold nanocrystal, using an X-ray free electron laser. The results demonstrate that the transient melting is reversible and nonhomogenous, consistent with a core-shell model of melting. The results have implications for understanding transient processes in nanoparticles and determining their elastic properties as they undergo phase transitions.

Note: (c) National Academy of Sciences. Post referee full text in progress.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. CFEL-Coherent X-Ray Imaging (FS-CFEL-1)

Research Program(s):

1. 6211 - Extreme States of Matter: From Cold Ions to Hot Plasmas (POF3-621) (POF3-621)

Experiment(s):

1. No specific instrument

Appears in the scientific report 2015

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Database coverage:
; BIOSIS Previews ; Current Contents - Agriculture, Biology and Environmental Sciences ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; IF >= 5 ; JCR ; NCBI Molecular Biology Database ; National-Konsortium ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Thomson Reuters Master Journal List ; Web of Science Core Collection ; Zoological Record

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