Abstract
In situ transmission electron microscopy reveals that an atomically thin crystalline phase at the surface of liquid Au-Si is stable over an unexpectedly wide range of conditions. By measuring the surface structure as a function of liquid temperature and composition, a simple thermodynamic model is developed to explain the stability of the ordered phase. The presence of surface ordering plays a key role in the pathway by which the Au-Si eutectic solidifies and also dramatically affects the catalytic properties of the liquid, explaining the anomalously slow growth kinetics of Si nanowires at low temperature. A strategy to control the presence of the surface phase is discussed, using it as a tool in designing strategies for nanostructure growth.
Highlights
Text: Understanding the phenomena that occur at the surface of liquid metals is critical for technological applications ranging from catalysis to soldering to crystal growth
We use in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to observe directly the formation of a crystalline 2D compound at the surface of liquid Au-Si
We find that the surface layer plays a key role in the pathway of eutectic decomposition of Au-Si into solid Au + solid Si on cooling, and that it is the root cause of the dramatic changes observed in the catalytic properties on cooling
Summary
Text: Understanding the phenomena that occur at the surface of liquid metals is critical for technological applications ranging from catalysis to soldering to crystal growth. We evaluate the presence and structure of the surface phase as a function of temperature by heating and cooling droplets on a Si substrate.
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