Mesoscale morphology of airborne core-shell nanoparticle clusters: x-ray laser coherent diffraction imaging

• Published in: Journal of physics. B, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics Vol. 46; no. 16; pp. 164033 - 1-10
• Main Authors: Pedersoli, E, Loh, N D, Capotondi, F, Hampton, C Y, Sierra, R G, Starodub, D, Bostedt, C, Bozek, J, Nelson, A J, Aslam, M, Li, S, Dravid, V P, Martin, A V, Aquila, A, Barty, A, Fleckenstein, H, Gumprecht, L, Liang, M, Nass, K, Schulz, J, White, T A, Coppola, N, Bajt, S, Barthelmess, M, Graafsma, H, Hirsemann, H, Wunderer, C, Epp, S W, Erk, B, Rudek, B, Rudenko, A, Foucar, L, Kassemeyer, S, Lomb, L, Rolles, D, Shoeman, R L, Steinbrener, J, Hartmann, R, Hartmann, A, Hauser, G, Holl, P, Kimmel, N, Reich, C, Soltau, H, Weidenspointner, G, Benner, W H, Farquar, G R, Hau-Riege, S P, Hunter, M S, Ekeberg, T, Hantke, M, Maia, F R N C, Tobias, H J, Marchesini, S, Frank, M, Strüder, L, Schlichting, I, Ullrich, J, Chapman, H N, Bucksbaum, P H, Kiskinova, M, Bogan, M J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: IOP Publishing 28.08.2013
• Subjects: coherent diffractive imaging; core-shell nanoparticle; Diffraction; diffraction imaging; Imaging; Morphology; Nanocomposites; Nanomaterials; Nanoparticles; Nanostructure; x-ray free-electron laser; X-ray lasers
• ISSN: 0953-4075; 1361-6455; 1361-6455
• DOI: 10.1088/0953-4075/46/16/164033

Unraveling the complex morphology of functional materials like core-shell nanoparticles and its evolution in different environments is still a challenge. Only recently has the single-particle coherent diffraction imaging (CDI), enabled by the ultrabright femtosecond free-electron laser pulses, provided breakthroughs in understanding mesoscopic morphology of nanoparticulate matter. Here, we report the first CDI results for Co@SiO2 core-shell nanoparticles randomly clustered in large airborne aggregates, obtained using the x-ray free-electron laser at the Linac Coherent Light Source. Our experimental results compare favourably with simulated diffraction patterns for clustered Co@SiO2 nanoparticles with ∼10 nm core diameter and ∼30 nm shell outer diameter, which confirms the ability to resolve the mesoscale morphology of complex metastable structures. The findings in this first morphological study of core-shell nanomaterials are a solid base for future time-resolved studies of dynamic phenomena in complex nanoparticulate matter using x-ray lasers.