title: Nanocrystal diffusion in a liquid thin film observed by in situ transmission electron microscopy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Electron Microcopy and Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Haimei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Shelley A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Claridge
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Minor
authors.forename: A Paul
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Alivisatos
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dahmen