Thermally induced breakup of metallic nanowires: experiment and theory.
We present time-resolved transmission electron microscopy studies of the degradation of Au, Ag, Cu and Ni nanowires deposited on a heated support. The wires are grown under fully inert conditions in superfluid helium droplets and deposited onto amorphous carbon. The inherent stability of these pristine metal nanowires with diameters below 10 nm is investigated in the absence of any stabilizers, templates or solvents. The phenomenon of Rayleigh-breakup, a consequence of diffusion processes along the wire surfaces, is analysed in situ via scans over time and support temperature. Our experimental efforts are combined with simulations based on a novel model featuring a cellular automaton to emulate surface diffusion. Based on this model, correlations between the material parameters and actual breakup behaviour are studied.
Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 16, A-8010 Graz, Austria. andreas.w.hauser@gmail.com wolfgang.ernst@tugraz.at.
Martin
M
Schnedlitz
Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 16, A-8010 Graz, Austria. andreas.w.hauser@gmail.com wolfgang.ernst@tugraz.at.
Maximilian
M
Lasserus
Institute for Electron Microscopy and Nanoanalysis & Graz Centre for Electron Microscopy, Graz University of Technology, Steyrergasse 17, A-8010 Graz, Austria.
Daniel
D
Knez
Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 16, A-8010 Graz, Austria. andreas.w.hauser@gmail.com wolfgang.ernst@tugraz.at.
Andreas W
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6918-3106
AW
Hauser
Institute for Electron Microscopy and Nanoanalysis & Graz Centre for Electron Microscopy, Graz University of Technology, Steyrergasse 17, A-8010 Graz, Austria.
Ferdinand
F
Hofer
Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 16, A-8010 Graz, Austria. andreas.w.hauser@gmail.com wolfgang.ernst@tugraz.at.
Wolfgang E
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8849-5658
WE
Ernst