Effect of surface carbon coating on sintering of silver nanoparticles: in situ TEM observations

Abstract

In this work, in situ transmission electron microscopy heating has been used to investigate the effects of a carbon capping layer on sintering of silver nanoparticles. For the first time, we make direct and real-time measurements of surface diffusivity of silver in nanoparticles coated with carbon. We observe that the carbon surface coatings may significantly inhibit sintering in silver nanoparticles.