Electron microscopy studies of electron-beam sensitive PbTe-based nanostructures

PbTe nanocrystals were synthesized and then reacted with a toluene solution containing AuCl 3. Depending on the reaction conditions and on the starting PbTe nanocrystals morphology, different kinds of nanostructures have been obtained: single defect-free PbTe nanocrystals with and without an external amourphous oxide shell, crystalline-Au core/amorphous Pb xTe yAu z shell structure, large balloon-shaped (or mushroom-shaped) Au domain attached via its apex to the surface of the nanocrystals. Structure and composition of these different types of nanostructure have been studied by means of C s-corrected High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) and Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM) together with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (EDX), respectively. These nanostructures have been found sensitive to the high-intensity electron beam and its effect has been investigated. Microsc. Res. Tech. 73:944-951, 2010. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.