heating characterization of structural evolution and size-dependent melting point depression in gold nanoclusters: a comprehensive thermodynamic investigation.

The investigation of nanocluster behaviors at elevated temperatures is important because it encompasses temperature-dependent structural evolution and size-dependent melting points. Size-selected Au, Au, Au, and Au clusters were generated using a gas-phase condensation cluster beam source equipped with a lateral time-of-flight mass selector. Comprehensive heating characterization was conducted, revealing the structural evolution and size-dependent melting point depression of Au clusters at atomic resolution aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (AC-STEM).

Coalescence behavior of size-selected gold and tantalum nanoclusters under electron beam irradiation: insights into nano-welding mechanisms.

The emerging technique of nano-welding (NW) precisely regulating the fusion of nanoclusters (NCs) in nanotechnology has attracted significant attention for its innovative approach. Employing the gas-phase condensation cluster source with a lateral time-of-flight (TOF) mass-selector, size-selected gold (Au), and tantalum (Ta) NCs were prepared. This study explores the coalescence behavior of size-selected Au and Ta NCs under electron beam irradiation, aiming to investigate the related mechanism governing the welding process.

Oxidation behavior and atomic structural transition of size-selected coalescence-resistant tantalum nanoclusters.

Herein a series of size-selected Ta(N = 147, 309, 561, 923, 1415, 2057, 6525, 10 000, 20 000) clusters are generated using a gas-phase condensation cluster beam source equipped with a lateral time-of-flight mass-selector. Aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (AC-STEM) imaging reveals good thermal stability of Taclusters in this study. The oxidation-induced amorphization is observed from AC-STEM imaging and further demonstrated through x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy.