Nonlinear Responses of Electronic-Excitation-Induced Phase Transformations in GaSb Nanoparticles

We studied electronic-excitation-induced phase transformations in nanoparticles using transmission electron microscopy. GaSb particles excited by 75 keV electrons transform to two phases consisting of an antimony core anda gallium shell or an amorphous phase, or remain in the original crystalline phase, depending on particle size and/or temperature. It is suggested that such nonlinear responses of the phase transformations may arise from synergistic effects of bond instability, localized excitations, enhanced diffusivity, or thermal equilibrium in reactions.