Nanoparticles in interlayers of Bi2O3-doped ZnO ceramics

Nanoparticles found in interlayers between the grains of Bi2O3-doped ZnO were analyzed using electron diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Both ZnO multiple twinned particles (MTPs) and single nanoparticles of less than 5 nm in diameter were found in the Bi-poor interlayers. The MTPs with the wurtzite structure give rise to no defects or structural changes in the present size because the angular misgap of five-fold symmetry is very small. Furthermore, β-Bi2O3 nanoparticles reaching a few tens of nanometers in diameter were formed in the Bi-rich interlayers.