Identification of a quasi-liquid phase at solid–liquid interface

Xinxing Peng, Fu-Chun Zhu, You-Hong Jiang, Juan-Juan Sun, Liang-Ping Xiao, Shiyuan Zhou, Karen C. Bustillo, Long-Hui Lin, Jun Cheng, Jian-Feng Li, Hong-Gang Liao (), Shi-Gang Sun and Haimei Zheng ()
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Xinxing Peng: Xiamen University
Fu-Chun Zhu: Xiamen University
You-Hong Jiang: Xiamen University
Juan-Juan Sun: Xiamen University
Liang-Ping Xiao: Xiamen University
Shiyuan Zhou: Xiamen University
Karen C. Bustillo: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Long-Hui Lin: Xiamen University
Jun Cheng: Xiamen University
Jian-Feng Li: Xiamen University
Hong-Gang Liao: Xiamen University
Shi-Gang Sun: Xiamen University
Haimei Zheng: Materials Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract An understanding of solid–liquid interfaces is of great importance for fundamental research as well as industrial applications. However, it has been very challenging to directly image solid–liquid interfaces with high resolution, thus their structure and properties are often unknown. Here, we report a quasi-liquid phase between metal (In, Sn) nanoparticle surfaces and an aqueous solution observed using liquid cell transmission electron microscopy. Our real-time high-resolution imaging reveals a thin layer of liquid-like materials at the interfaces with the frequent appearance of small In nanoclusters. Such a quasi-liquid phase serves as an intermediate for the mass transport from the metal nanoparticle to the liquid. Density functional theory-molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate that the positive charges of In ions greatly contribute to the stabilization of the quasi-liquid phase on the metal surface.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31075-z

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