Nonlinear responses of electronic-excitation-induced phase transformations in GaSb nanoparticles

We studied electronic-excitation-induced phase transformations in nanoparticles using transmission electron microscopy. GaSb particles excited by 75 keV electrons transform to two phases consisting of an antimony core and a gallium shell or an amorphous phase, or remain in the original crystalline phase, depending on particle size and/or temperature. It is suggested that such nonlinear responses of the phase transformations may arise from synergistic effects of bond instability, localized excitations, enhanced diffusivity, or thermal equilibrium in reactions.