title: Assembly and interaction of Au/C core-shell nanostructures: in situ observation in the transmission electron microscope.
abstract: Using transmission electron microscopy, we identify the temperature-dependent interaction pathway of carbon-supported Au nanoparticles. At low temperature (room temp. to 400 degrees C), Au nanoparticles predominantly interact by coalescence initiated by an atomic Au bridge. At high temperature (400-800 degrees C), the particles assemble into Au/C core-shell nanostructures. C-shells around individual nanoparticles passivate their surface and prevent coalescence. Ultimately coalescence does occur via rupture of the passivating shells, which invariably follows the assembly of C sheets enveloping and compressing multiple closely spaced Au/C nanoparticles.
authors.affiliation: Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA. esutter@bnl.gov
authors.forename: Eli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sutter
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sutter
authors.forename: Yimei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu