The lattice contraction of nanometre-sized Sn and Bi particles produced by an electrohydrodynamic technique

Nanometre-sized Sn and Bi particles were produced by an electrohydrodynamic technique. The lattice parameters of the nanometre-sized Sn and Bi particles with different grain sizes were measured by x-ray diffraction. It was found that the lattice parameters a and c for the nanometre-sized Sn and Bi particles are smaller than the equilibrium lattice parameters and of the corresponding Sn and Bi perfect single crystals respectively. With a reduction in grain size, the values of a, c and the unit cell volume V decrease. The results are attributed to a supersaturation of the vacant lattice sites in the nanoscale particles.