Abstract
Results of systematic AFM (atomic force microscopy) experiments on heavily and moderatly irradiated NaCl samples are presented. The sodium nanoparticles and structures of nanoparticles are poduced in sodium chloride during irradiation. The AFM images of the nanoparticles have been obtained in ultra high vacuum (UHV) in the non-contact mode with an Omicron UHV AFM/STM system. The sizes and arrangements of the observed particles depend on the irradiation conditions. The melting behaviour of the sodium nanoclusters has been studied for these samples by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A phenomenological model has been proposed which explains the observed behaviour by the existence of two different structural states in the population of sodium colloids. AFM measurements of heavily irradiated natural rock salt samples have revealed ring- and chain-like clusters (or agglomerates) of Na colloid particles. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
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