Gold nano-particle formation from crystalline AuCN: Comparison of thermal, plasma- and ion-beam activated decomposition

Proposed scheme of the decomposition mechanism of AuCN samples: heat treatment in Ar flow (a) and in sealed ampoule (b); Ar+ ion treatment at 300 eV (c) and at 2500 eV (d). Cross section sketches illustrate the Au phase formation and the corresponding TEM micrographs are shown as top views. The dotted lines represent the original boundaries of the AuCN crystals.173