AVS 50th International Symposium
    Applied Surface Science Monday Sessions
       Session AS-MoA

Paper AS-MoA5
Iron-Oxide Nanoparticle Stability in an Ion Beam

Monday, November 3, 2003, 3:20 pm, Room 324/325

Session: Nanotube and Nanoparticle Characterization
Presenter: D.R. Baer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Authors: K.H. Pecher, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
D.R. Baer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
M.H. Engelhard, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Correspondent: Click to Email
The immense interest in nano-structured materials necessarily leads to application of various methods of surface analysis to examine the composition, chemical state and other properties of such materials. There are a variety of reasons why the chemical properties of nanoparticles may differ from bulk versions of similar material. We have been examining various types of iron metal and oxide nanoparticles to understand their chemical behavior. During the course of study 30 nm diameter iron oxide particles distributed on a silicon wafer or a gold coated wafer were exposed to 2 kV ions. In comparison to a 30 nm think iron oxide film, the nanoparticles were significantly altered. Particles suspended on Au were significantly reduced while particles distributed on the uncoated wafer rapidly formed an iron silicide. Further studies show that aggregates of nanoparticles do not show the same reduction. The stability of nanostructures when subjected to various types of analysis may be a significant complication to the study of these interesting materials.