Electron Beam Induced Formation of Hollow RbBr Nanocubes

RbBr nanocubes were transformed from solid to hollow nanostructure under e-beam irradiation while maintaining the size, exterior shape, and crystalline structure. The process of the morphological evolution was studied by in situ TEM characterization at atomic resolution. The transformation was attributed to combination of the radiolysis and surface ligand bonding (stabilization). The radiolysis occurred at the surface resulted in evaporation or sputtering of the constituent atoms at the unpassivated sites, leaving vacancies at the surface which facilitate the outward diffusion of atoms from inside. The atoms near the surface were stabilized by the bonding of the ligands and remained in the crystalline configuration, leading to the formation of hollow nanocubes.