In situ growth of Indium nanocrystals on InP nanorods mediated by electron beam of transmission electron microscope

Indium nanocrystals of different shapes and morphologies, including several micrometers long nanowires and two-dimensional nanoplatelets, were directly grown on the surface of mother Indium Phosphide nanorods during weak beam electron irradiation inside a transmission electron microscope. As-grown nanocrystals revealed pure single-crystalline tetragonal In phase. Low melting point of In crystals led to the continuous transitions of crystals from a solid to liquid state during the in situ growth, which were observed in a real-time and video-recorded. The structure and chemistry of the nanocrystals were thoroughly analyzed using high-resolution TEM and STEM imaging, energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy, electron diffraction and elemental mapping.