In-situ cobalt nanocrystal synthesis by intense electron beams in TEM

Gnanavel Thirunavukkarasu and Guenter Moebus

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

We report the synthesis of cobalt nanoparticles of a range of sizes from raw
cobalt fluoride powder using high intensity focused electron beams and their
characterisation in-situ in a TEM. A variety of beam intensities with different
focussing level in a JEOL JEM 3010 TEM at an acceleration voltage of 300 kV is
used. Depending on the beam intensity either a distribution of a large number of
nanoparticles of 1-150 nm size or singular/a small number of fine metal particle(s) of ~150 nm up to micron size can be produced. Mechanisms of the nanoparticle formation are discussed. This simple, organic precursor free, non-hazardous and oxide-free fabrication method offers great potential for basic research, as it allows the fabrication of fresh particles “on demand” in a location with a distribution as required. As the size range is tuneable, the full magnetic properties from superparamagnetic, over single domain ferromagnetic, to multi-domain are covered.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationInstitute of Physics (UK)
Subtitle of host publicationElectron Microscopy and Analysis Group Conference 2011 (EMAG 2011)
PublisherJournal of Physics: Conference Series
Pages012047
Volume371
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012

Cite this