In situ transmission electron microscopy of solid-liquid phase transition of silica encapsulated bismuth nanoparticles

    Authors

    J. J. Hu; Y. Hong; C. Muratore; M. Su;A. A. Voevodin

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Nanoscale

    Keywords

    THERMAL-ENERGY STORAGE; HEAT-TRANSFER; PARTICLES; GOLD; Chemistry, Multidisciplinary; Nanoscience & Nanotechnology; Materials; Science, Multidisciplinary; Physics, Applied

    Abstract

    The solid-liquid phase transition of silica encapsulated bismuth nanoparticles was studied by in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The nanoparticles were prepared by a two-step chemical synthesis process involving thermal decomposition of organometallic precursors for nucleating bismuth and a sol-gel process for growing silica. The microstructural and chemical analyses of the nanoparticles were performed using high-resolution TEM, Z-contrast imaging, focused ion beam milling, and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy. Solid-liquid-solid phase transitions of the nanoparticles were directly recorded by electron diffractions and TEM images. The silica encapsulation of the nanoparticles prevented agglomeration and allowed particles to preserve their original volume upon melting, which is desirable for applications of phase change nanoparticles with consistently repeatable thermal properties.

    Journal Title

    Nanoscale

    Volume

    3

    Issue/Number

    9

    Publication Date

    1-1-2011

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    3700

    Last Page

    3704

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000294472600037

    ISSN

    2040-3364

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