Hybrid tungsten-carbon 2D nanostructures via in situ gasification of carbon substrates driven by ebeam irradiation of WO2.9 microparticles

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Ignacio Gonzalez-Martinez - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Kristina Weinel - , Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing Berlin (Author)
  • Wen Feng - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Leonardo Agudo-Jácome - , Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing Berlin (Author)
  • Thomas Gemming - , Chair of Materials Synthesis and Analysis, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Bernd Büchner - , Chair of Experimental Solid State Physics, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)

Abstract

Since the transmission electron microscope (TEM) has the capacity to observe the atomic structure of materials, in situ TEM synthesis methods are uniquely suited to advance our fundamental understanding of the bottom-up dynamics that drive the formation of nanostructures. E-beam induced fragmentation (potentially identified as a manifestation of Coulomb explosion) and electron stimulated desorption are phenomena that have received attention because they trigger chemical and physical reactions that can lead to the production of various nanostructures. Here we report a simple TEM protocol implemented on WO2.9 microparticles supported on thin amorphous carbon substrates. The method produces various nanostructures such as WC nanoparticles, WC supported films and others. Nevertheless, we focus on the gradual graphitization and gasification of the C substrate as it interacts with the material expelled from the WO2.9 microparticles. The progressive gasification transforms the substrate from amorphous C down to hybrid graphitic nanoribbons incorporating W nanoparticles. We think these observations open interesting possibilities for the synthesis of 2D nanomaterials in the TEM.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number495602
Number of pages14
JournalNanotechnology
Volume34
Issue number49
Early online date22 Sept 2023
Publication statusPublished - 3 Dec 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 37651987

Keywords

Keywords

  • Coulomb explosion, in situ synthesis, nanoribbons, transmission electron microscope, tungsten carbide

Library keywords