Atomic-resolution imaging of surface and core melting in individual size-selected Au nanoclusters on carbon

Abstract

Much remains unresolved about the mechanisms of nanoparticle melting. Here, by observing and simulating individual gold nanoclusters at atomic level as they are heated inside an electron microscope, the authors find that the particle surface melts before the interior. Their experimental results in combination with the atomistic simulations confirm the coexistence of a liquid shell and solid core during melting, as well as size-dependent melting point suppression.