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.