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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 10, 2026

Methods of Ex Situ and In Situ Investigations of Structural Transformations: The Case of Crystallization of Metallic Glasses

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Published on: June 7, 2018

Pressure-induced switching between amorphization and crystallization in PbTe nanoparticles.

Zewei Quan¹, Zhiping Luo, Yuxuan Wang

¹Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Binghamton, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States.

|June 29, 2013

Summary

High-pressure experiments reveal lead telluride (PbTe) nanocrystals switch between rock salt and amorphous phases. The amorphous phase can revert to rock salt or remain stable, offering insights into phase transitions.

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Area of Science:

Materials Science
Nanotechnology
Solid-State Physics

Background:

Understanding pressure-induced phase transitions in nanomaterials is crucial for their application.
Lead telluride (PbTe) nanocrystals exhibit unique structural behaviors under extreme conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate pressure-induced structural switches in PbTe nanocrystals.
To elucidate the mechanisms of crystallization and growth in amorphous PbTe phases.

Main Methods:

In situ high-pressure X-ray scattering combined with transmission electron microscopy.
Analysis of 6 nm PbTe nanocrystals under varying pressures.

Main Results:

Rock salt PbTe nanocrystals transform to an amorphous phase above 10 GPa.
A low-to-high density amorphous phase transformation occurs above 15 GPa.
The low-density amorphous phase shows structural memory, reverting to rock salt upon pressure release, while the high-density phase is stable at ambient conditions.

Conclusions:

Structural memory effects are observed in the pressure-induced amorphous phase of PbTe nanocrystals.
Electron beam heating can induce recrystallization of amorphous PbTe.
Provides insights into mechanisms of pressure-induced phase switching and growth in nanocrystals.