Stationary Atoms in Liquid Metals and Their Role in Solidification Mechanisms.

ABSTRACT: According to common understanding, the primary difference between a liquid and a solid metal lies in atomic motion─atoms move rapidly in liquids, while they remain stationary in a solid lattice. The solidification process involves a transition from random atomic motion to an ordered crystalline structure, with nucleation playing a crucial role. However, our research indicates that the boundary between these two phases is not as distinct as previously believed: liquid metal nanoparticles can contain stationary atoms, and the number and positions of these atoms influence the solidification pathway upon cooling. Using spherical and chromatic aberration-corrected high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) at low accelerating voltages, we studied the solidification of platinum, pa

SUBMITTER: Leist C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12752686 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature