Synthesis and size-dependent crystallization of colloidal germanium telluridenanoparticles

• DOI: 10.1039/b917024c
• Publication Date: 2009-11-09T13:30:16Z
• Authors: Marissa A. Caldwell; Simone Raoux; Robert Y. Wang; H.-S. Philip Wong; Delia J. Milliron
• Keywords: Nanometre

Colloidal nanocrystals have long been used to study the dependence of phase stability and transitions on size. Both structural change dramatically in nanometre size regime where surface plays a significant role determining overall energetics system. We investigate solid–solid transformation crystallization amorphous GeTe nanoparticles. report colloidal synthetic route Using situ X-ray diffraction while heating, we observe nanoparticles find dramatic increase temperature over 150 °C above bulk value. size-selected nanoparticle films, show that depends strongly particle In addition, measure electrical resistance films 5 orders magnitude lower for crystalline film compared film. Finally, discuss implications size-dependence context both understanding behavior nanosize applications memory devices.