Formation of distinctive nanostructured metastable polymorphs mediated by kinetic transition pathways in germanium
High-pressure β-Sn germanium may transform into diverse metastable allotropes with distinctive nanostructures and unique physical properties via multiple pathways under decompression. However, the mechanism and transition kinetics remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate the formation of metas...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AIP Publishing LLC
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Matter and Radiation at Extremes |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0256231 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850249031269220352 |
|---|---|
| author | Mei Li Xuqiang Liu Sheng Jiang Jesse S. Smith Lihua Wang Shang Peng Yongjin Chen Yu Gong Chuanlong Lin Wenge Yang Ho-Kwang Mao |
| author_facet | Mei Li Xuqiang Liu Sheng Jiang Jesse S. Smith Lihua Wang Shang Peng Yongjin Chen Yu Gong Chuanlong Lin Wenge Yang Ho-Kwang Mao |
| author_sort | Mei Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | High-pressure β-Sn germanium may transform into diverse metastable allotropes with distinctive nanostructures and unique physical properties via multiple pathways under decompression. However, the mechanism and transition kinetics remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate the formation of metastable phases and nanostructures in germanium via controllable transition pathways of β-Sn Ge under rapid decompression at different rates. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy reveals three distinct metastable phases with the distinctive nanostructures: an almost perfect st12 Ge crystal, nanosized bc8/r8 structures with amorphous boundaries, and amorphous Ge with nanosized clusters (0.8–2.5 nm). Fast in situ x-ray diffraction and x-ray absorption measurements indicate that these nanostructured products form in certain pressure regions via distinct kinetic pathways and are strongly correlated with nucleation rates and electronic transitions mediated by compression rate, temperature, and stress. This work provides deep insight into the controllable synthesis of metastable materials with unique crystal symmetries and nanostructures for potential applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9e97f7b7bbe2478fa31a997addb7df14 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2468-080X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | AIP Publishing LLC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Matter and Radiation at Extremes |
| spelling | doaj-art-9e97f7b7bbe2478fa31a997addb7df142025-08-20T01:58:34ZengAIP Publishing LLCMatter and Radiation at Extremes2468-080X2025-05-01103037801037801-810.1063/5.0256231Formation of distinctive nanostructured metastable polymorphs mediated by kinetic transition pathways in germaniumMei Li0Xuqiang Liu1Sheng Jiang2Jesse S. Smith3Lihua Wang4Shang Peng5Yongjin Chen6Yu Gong7Chuanlong Lin8Wenge Yang9Ho-Kwang Mao10Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Beijing 100094, People’s Republic of ChinaCenter for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Beijing 100094, People’s Republic of ChinaShanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai 201210, People’s Republic of ChinaHigh Pressure Collaborative Access Team, X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, USAShanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai 201210, People’s Republic of ChinaCenter for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Beijing 100094, People’s Republic of ChinaCenter for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Beijing 100094, People’s Republic of ChinaBeijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100049, People’s Republic of ChinaCenter for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Beijing 100094, People’s Republic of ChinaCenter for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Beijing 100094, People’s Republic of ChinaCenter for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Beijing 100094, People’s Republic of ChinaHigh-pressure β-Sn germanium may transform into diverse metastable allotropes with distinctive nanostructures and unique physical properties via multiple pathways under decompression. However, the mechanism and transition kinetics remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate the formation of metastable phases and nanostructures in germanium via controllable transition pathways of β-Sn Ge under rapid decompression at different rates. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy reveals three distinct metastable phases with the distinctive nanostructures: an almost perfect st12 Ge crystal, nanosized bc8/r8 structures with amorphous boundaries, and amorphous Ge with nanosized clusters (0.8–2.5 nm). Fast in situ x-ray diffraction and x-ray absorption measurements indicate that these nanostructured products form in certain pressure regions via distinct kinetic pathways and are strongly correlated with nucleation rates and electronic transitions mediated by compression rate, temperature, and stress. This work provides deep insight into the controllable synthesis of metastable materials with unique crystal symmetries and nanostructures for potential applications.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0256231 |
| spellingShingle | Mei Li Xuqiang Liu Sheng Jiang Jesse S. Smith Lihua Wang Shang Peng Yongjin Chen Yu Gong Chuanlong Lin Wenge Yang Ho-Kwang Mao Formation of distinctive nanostructured metastable polymorphs mediated by kinetic transition pathways in germanium Matter and Radiation at Extremes |
| title | Formation of distinctive nanostructured metastable polymorphs mediated by kinetic transition pathways in germanium |
| title_full | Formation of distinctive nanostructured metastable polymorphs mediated by kinetic transition pathways in germanium |
| title_fullStr | Formation of distinctive nanostructured metastable polymorphs mediated by kinetic transition pathways in germanium |
| title_full_unstemmed | Formation of distinctive nanostructured metastable polymorphs mediated by kinetic transition pathways in germanium |
| title_short | Formation of distinctive nanostructured metastable polymorphs mediated by kinetic transition pathways in germanium |
| title_sort | formation of distinctive nanostructured metastable polymorphs mediated by kinetic transition pathways in germanium |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0256231 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT meili formationofdistinctivenanostructuredmetastablepolymorphsmediatedbykinetictransitionpathwaysingermanium AT xuqiangliu formationofdistinctivenanostructuredmetastablepolymorphsmediatedbykinetictransitionpathwaysingermanium AT shengjiang formationofdistinctivenanostructuredmetastablepolymorphsmediatedbykinetictransitionpathwaysingermanium AT jessessmith formationofdistinctivenanostructuredmetastablepolymorphsmediatedbykinetictransitionpathwaysingermanium AT lihuawang formationofdistinctivenanostructuredmetastablepolymorphsmediatedbykinetictransitionpathwaysingermanium AT shangpeng formationofdistinctivenanostructuredmetastablepolymorphsmediatedbykinetictransitionpathwaysingermanium AT yongjinchen formationofdistinctivenanostructuredmetastablepolymorphsmediatedbykinetictransitionpathwaysingermanium AT yugong formationofdistinctivenanostructuredmetastablepolymorphsmediatedbykinetictransitionpathwaysingermanium AT chuanlonglin formationofdistinctivenanostructuredmetastablepolymorphsmediatedbykinetictransitionpathwaysingermanium AT wengeyang formationofdistinctivenanostructuredmetastablepolymorphsmediatedbykinetictransitionpathwaysingermanium AT hokwangmao formationofdistinctivenanostructuredmetastablepolymorphsmediatedbykinetictransitionpathwaysingermanium |