Issue 43, 2020

On the identification of twinning in body-centred cubic nanoparticles

Abstract

Many metals and alloys, including Fe and W, adopt body-centred cubic (BCC) crystal structures and nanoparticles of these metals are gaining significant scientific and industrial relevance. Twinning has a marked effect on catalytic activity, yet there is little evidence for or against the presence of twinning in BCC nanoparticles. Here, we explore the potential shapes of twinned BCC nanoparticles, and predict their electron microscopy and diffraction signatures. BCC single crystal and twinned shapes often appear similar and diffraction patterns along common, low-index zone axes are often indistinguishable, casting doubt on many claims of single crystallinity. We conclude by outlining how nanoparticles can be characterized to conclusively prove the presence or absence of twinning.

Graphical abstract: On the identification of twinning in body-centred cubic nanoparticles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
28 sep 2020
Accepted
22 okt 2020
First published
23 okt 2020
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Nanoscale, 2020,12, 22009-22013

On the identification of twinning in body-centred cubic nanoparticles

E. R. Hopper, C. Boukouvala, D. N. Johnstone, J. S. Biggins and E. Ringe, Nanoscale, 2020, 12, 22009 DOI: 10.1039/D0NR06957D

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