Formation mechanisms of a nano-island array of Zn nanocrystals embedded in a SiO(2) nanowire by using electrospinning and electron-beam irradiation

Abstract

A nano-island array of approximately 7-nm-diameter Zn single crystals embedded in a SiO 2 nanowire was created by using electrospinning and electron-beam irradiation. Bright-field transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images, high-resolution TEM (HRTEM) images, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and fast-Fourier-transformed electron diffraction patterns showed that Zn nanocrystals were created inside the SiO 2 nanowire. The formation mechanisms of Zn nanoparticles embedded in a SiO 2 nanowire due to the decomposition of ZnO and SiO 2 nanoparticles are described on the basis of the HRTEM images and the EDS profiles.