Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2026
12:55
Millifluidics for Chemical Synthesis and Time-resolved Mechanistic Studies
Published on: November 27, 2013
Nanoparticle ejection from Au induced by single Xe ion impacts
1Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|December 2, 2000
Summary
Single ion impacts eject gold nanoparticles during sputtering, observed using in situ transmission electron microscopy. These ejected nanoparticles significantly contribute to the overall sputtering yield.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Surface Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Sputtering is a key process in thin film deposition and surface modification.
- Understanding nanoparticle ejection during ion bombardment is crucial for controlling surface morphology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To directly observe the ejection mechanism of gold nanoparticles during xenon ion irradiation.
- To investigate the role of thermal spikes and displacement cascades in nanoparticle formation and sputtering.
Main Methods:
- In situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in transmission geometry.
- Xenon ion irradiation of gold.
- Collection of sputtered material on a carbon foil collector.
Main Results:
- Observed ejection of gold nanoparticles from the surface upon single xenon ion impact.
- Nanoparticle ejection originates from the melt zone within a thermal spike.
- Single ion impacts can create craters and eject nanoparticles simultaneously.
Conclusions:
- Nanoparticle ejection is a direct consequence of single ion impacts and thermal spike dynamics.
- Ejected nanoparticles represent a significant, previously underestimated, component of the total sputtering yield.
