Lattice parameter evolution in Pt nanoparticles during photo-thermally induced sintering and grain growth

Abstract An in-situ optical pump/x-ray probe technique has been used to study the size dependent lattice parameter of Pt nanoparticles subjected to picosecond duration optical laser pulses. The as-prepared Pt nanoparticles exhibited a contracted lattice parameter consistent with the response of an isolated elastic sphere to a compressive surface stress. During photo-thermally induced sintering and grain growth, however, the Pt lattice parameter did not evolve with the inverse particle size dependence predicted by simple surface stress models. The observed behavior could be attributed to the combined effects of a compressive surface/interface stress and a tensile stress arising from intergranular material.