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Research Article

Atomic mechanisms of hexagonal close-packed Ni nanocrystallization revealed by in situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy

Junyu Zhang1( ), Miao Li2, Zewen Kang3, Bensheng Xiao2, Haichen Lin7, Jingyu Lu6, Haodong Liu7, Xue Zhang4( ), Dong-Liang Peng2, Qiaobao Zhang2,5( )
Instrumental Analysis Center, Laboratory and Equipment Management Department, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
College of Chemical Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China
Center for Materials and Interfaces, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen 518055, China
Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen 361005, China
School of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
Chemical Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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Graphical Abstract

The amorphous-phase-mediated crystallization of Ni hexagonal close-packed nanoparticles in homogeneous solution through spinodal decomposition, solidification and crystallization is explicitly unraveled by combining in situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and theoretical analysis.

Abstract

The fundamental understanding of the mechanism underlying the early stages of crystallization of hexagonal-close-packed (hcp) nanocrystals is crucial for their synthesis with desired properties, but it remains a significant challenge. Here, we report using in situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to directly capture the dynamic nucleation process and track the real-time growth pathway of hcp Ni nanocrystals at the atomic scale. It is demonstrated that the growth of amorphous-phase-mediated hcp Ni nanocrystals is from the metal-rich liquid phases. In addition, the reshaped preatomic facet development of a single nanocrystal is also imaged. Theoretical calculations further identify the non-classical features of hcp Ni crystallization. These discoveries could enrich the nucleation and growth model theory and provide useful information for the rational design of synthesis pathways of hcp nanocrystals.

Keywords

hexagonal-close-packed (hcp) nanocrystalsliquid cell transmission electron microscopy (TEM)amorphous-phase-mediatedreshape

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Nano Research
Volume 15 Issue 7,
July 2022
Pages 6772-6778
DOI: 10.1007/s12274-022-4475-3
Cite this article:
Zhang J, Li M, Kang Z, et al. Atomic mechanisms of hexagonal close-packed Ni nanocrystallization revealed by in situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy. Nano Research, 2022, 15(7): 6772-6778. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-022-4475-3
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Received: 27 January 2022
Revised: 24 April 2022
Accepted: 26 April 2022
Published: 13 May 2022
© Tsinghua University Press 2022
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