biostudies-literatureWang WU.S. Department of EnergyChina Postdoctoral Science FoundationNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaScience and Technology Research and Development of Henan Provincee2412779https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11948076biostudies-literatureUnknown12(12)Cold welding of metals at the nanoscale has been demonstrated to play a significant role in bottom-up manufacturing and self-healing processes of nanostructures and nanodevices. However, the welding mechanism at the nanoscale is not well understood. In this study, a comprehensive demonstration of the cold welding process of gold nanorods with different modes is presented through in situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy. The experimental results and molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the nanorods are welded through the facet-dependent atomic surface diffusion and rearrangement along {100} facets. The density functional theory calculations indicate that the preferred coalescence of two {100} surfaces is thermodynamically favorable. Unlike the prevalent "oriented attachmenAdvanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)Facet-Dependent Cold Welding of Au Nanorods Revealed by Liquid Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy.PMC11948076DE-AC02-05-CH112312023TQ03121237417123230142003712204422DE‐AC02‐05‐CH11231Meng FCai RCheng SSun LZheng HSong DXu TWang WShan CFan SfalseFacet-Dependent Cold Welding of Au Nanorods Revealed by Liquid Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy.Cold welding of metals at the nanoscale has been demonstrated to play a significant role in bottom-up manufacturing and self-healing processes of nanostructures and nanodevices. However, the welding mechanism at the nanoscale is not well understood. In this study, a comprehensive demonstration of the cold welding process of gold nanorods with different modes is presented through in situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy. The experimental results and molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the nanorods are welded through the facet-dependent atomic surface diffusion and rearrangement along {100} facets. The density functional theory calculations indicate that the preferred coalescence of two {100} surfaces is thermodynamically favorable. Unlike the prevalent "oriented attachmen2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Mar2025-07-04T03:05:43.514Z2025-07-04T03:05:43.514ZS-EPMC119480763988828910.1002/advs.202412779