Gold nanoclusters dispersed in single crystal TiO2, MgO, and SrTiO3 have been prepared by ion implantation at 300 K - 975 K and subsequent annealing at 1275 K for 10 hours. High resolution transmission electron microscopy and high-angle-annular-dark-field (HAADF) imaging in aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) have been used to characterize the microstructure of the gold nanoclusters dispersed materials. STEM-HAADF imaging with atomic resolution has directly revealed for all three materials that Au atoms occupy cations lattice positions. Cavities of up to several tens nanometers were observed in the TiO2 and SrTiO3. The cavities and gold clusters appear to be spatially associated in SrTiO3. The nanometer-sized cavities and the Au cluster are faceted along the same lattice plane of the matrix, indicating that the interfacial energy defined by the Au cluster and the matrix follows the same order of the surface energy for different lattice plane.
Revised: November 21, 2005 |
Published: August 1, 2005
Citation
Wang C.M., V. Shutthanandan, Y. Zhang, S. Thevuthasan, and G. Duscher. 2005.Atomic Resolution Imaging of Au Nanocluster Dispersed in TiO2, SrTiO3, and MgO.Journal of the American Ceramic Society 88, no. 11:3184-3191.PNNL-SA-43233.