In situ atomic-scale analysis of Rayleigh instability in ultrathin gold nanowires  

作　　者：Shang Xu  Peifeng Li  Yang Lu 

机构地区：[1]Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering City University of Hong Kong Kowloon, Hong Kong China [2]Institute of Applied Mechanics Zhejiang University Hangzhou China [3]Hong Kong Branch of National Precious Metals Material Engineering Research Center (NPMM) 83 Tat Chee Avenue Kowloon, Hong Kong China

出　　处：《Nano Research》2018年第2期625-632,共8页纳米研究（英文版）

摘　　要：Comprehensive understanding of the structural/morphology stability of ultrathin （diameter 〈 10 nm） gold nanowires under real service conditions （such as under Joule heating） is a prerequisite for the reliable implementation of these emerging building blocks into functional nanoelectronics and mechatronics systems. Here, by using the in situ transmission electron microscopy （TEM） technique, we discovered that the Rayleigh instability phenomenon exists in ultrathin gold nanowires upon moderate heating. Through the controlled electron beam irradiation-induced heating mechanism （with 〈 100 ~C temperature rise）, we further quantified the effect of electron beam intensity and its dependence on Rayleigh instability in altering the geometry and morphology of the ultrathin gold nanowires. Moreover, in situ high-resolution TEM （HRTEM） observations revealed surface atomic diffusion process to be the dominating mechanism for the morphology evolution processes. Our results, with unprecedented details on the atomic-scale picture of Rayleigh instability and its underlying physics, provide critical insights on the thermal/structural stability of gold nanostructures down to a sub-10 nm level which may pave the way for their interconnect applications in future ultra- large-scale integrated ciroaits.Comprehensive understanding of the structural/morphology stability of ultrathin （diameter 〈 10 nm） gold nanowires under real service conditions （such as under Joule heating） is a prerequisite for the reliable implementation of these emerging building blocks into functional nanoelectronics and mechatronics systems. Here, by using the in situ transmission electron microscopy （TEM） technique, we discovered that the Rayleigh instability phenomenon exists in ultrathin gold nanowires upon moderate heating. Through the controlled electron beam irradiation-induced heating mechanism （with 〈 100 ~C temperature rise）, we further quantified the effect of electron beam intensity and its dependence on Rayleigh instability in altering the geometry and morphology of the ultrathin gold nanowires. Moreover, in situ high-resolution TEM （HRTEM） observations revealed surface atomic diffusion process to be the dominating mechanism for the morphology evolution processes. Our results, with unprecedented details on the atomic-scale picture of Rayleigh instability and its underlying physics, provide critical insights on the thermal/structural stability of gold nanostructures down to a sub-10 nm level which may pave the way for their interconnect applications in future ultra- large-scale integrated ciroaits.

关 键 词：ultrathin gold nanowire in situ transmissionelectron microscopy （TEM） Rayleigh instability thermal instability INTERCONNECT 

分 类 号：O4-09[理学—物理] O562.1