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Alloy Phase Formation in Isolated Nanometer-sized Particles in the Au-Sn and Sn-Bi Systems
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 February 2011
Abstract
Alloy formation in nanometer-sized particles has been studied as a function of the particle size by in-situ transmission electron microscopy using particles in the Au-Sn and Sn-Bi systems. When the size of particles is larger than a critical value, essentially similar phase equilibrium was observed in nanometer-sized particles and bulk materials in the both systems. But a solid amorphous phase was formed over a compositional range near the eutectic composition when the size of particles was smaller than about 7 nm in diameter in the former system, whereas a fluid amorphous phase was formed when the size of particles is smaller than about 10 nm in diameter in the latter system. These amorphous phases directly changed into liquid phases upon heating and solidified into amorphous phases upon subsequent cooling. The formation of these thermodynamically stable amorphous phases can be attributed to the the suppression of the eutectic temperature (Teu) associated with size reduction being so large that Teu is below the glass transition temperature (Tg).
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- Copyright © Materials Research Society 2003
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