Specific Features of the Formation of Gallium, Indium, Bismuth, and Antimony Nanoparticles

Abstract

Gallium, indium, bismuth, and antimony nanoparticles were obtained by vacuum evaporation technique onto glass carbon substrates at an argon gas pressure of 6 × 103 Pa and a melt temperature of 330–380°C. It is established that the evaporation time and temperatures of the melt and substrate determine the sizes, density, and shape of the nanoparticles and crystallites. The high surface tension of gallium melt and excess of the substrate temperature above the gallium crystallization temperature provide the density increase with the decrease of Ga nanoparticle dimensions. On the contrary, the low surface tension and excess of crystallization temperature above the substrate temperature facilitates the formation of antimony crystallites in a shape similar to the Sb unit cell. An increase of the melt and substrate temperatures increased the dimensions and density of indium and bismuth nanoparticles.