6533b7dcfe1ef96bd127281c

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Electron beam induced growth of silver nanowhiskers

Ants LõhmusMadis UmalasAlexey E. RomanovAlexey E. RomanovLeonid M. DoroginRando SaarRünno LõhmusSergei VlassovBoris PolyakovIlmar Kink

subject

NanostructureMaterials scienceAnnealing (metallurgy)NanotechnologySilver nanowiresCondensed Matter PhysicsElectromigrationNanomaterialsInorganic ChemistryElectric fieldThermalMaterials ChemistryCathode rayComposite material

description

Abstract In this paper we report an electron beam induced rapid (up to several tens of nm/s) growth of silver nanowhiskers from silver nanowire networks coated with TiO 2 by sol–gel method. Different growth conditions are tested and it is demonstrated that growth is optimal for samples with the film thickness in the range 50–200 nm and previously annealed at 400 °C for 5–10 min. Growth mechanism is attributed to cooperative effect of several factors including diffusion of Ag into TiO 2 matrix during annealing, electromigration of Ag atoms caused by strong electric field, and presence of mechanical stresses at interfaces enhanced by thermal expansions due to local heating under e-beam illumination.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2015-01-01Journal of Crystal Growth
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2014.10.021