Nanocrystal diffusion in a liquid thin film observed by in situ transmission electron microscopy.
We have directly observed motion of inorganic nanoparticles during fluid evaporation using a transmission electron microscope. Tracking real-time diffusion of both spherical (5-15 nm) and rod-shaped (5 x 10 nm) gold nanocrystals in a thin film of water-15% glycerol reveals complex movements, such as rolling motions coupled to large-step movements and macroscopic violations of the Stokes-Einstein relation for diffusion. As drying patches form during the final stages of evaporation, particle motion is dominated by the nearby retracting liquid front.
Zheng
Haimei
H
National Center for Electron Microcopy and Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Claridge
Shelley A
SA
Minor
Andrew M
AM
Alivisatos
A Paul
AP
Dahmen
Ulrich
U