Size Dependence of Structural Metastability in Semiconductor Nanocrystals

• DOI: 10.1126/science.276.5311.398
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T09:45:15Z
• Authors: Chia-Chun Chen; A. B. Herhold; C. S. Johnson; A. P. Alivisatos
• Keywords: Metastability

The kinetics of a first-order, solid-solid phase transition were investigated in the prototypical nanocrystal system CdSe as function crystallite size. In contrast to extended solids, nanocrystals convert from one structure another by single nucleation events, and transformations obey simple unimolecular kinetics. Barrier heights observed increase with increasing size, although they also depend on nature surface. These results are analogous magnetic transitions suggest general rules that may be use discovery new metastable phases.