Non Deterministic Phase Dynamics in Nanoparticles Enabled by Surface Energy

This thesis describes the development of in-situ cinematographic recording techniques for investigating phase dynamics using nanoparticles (NPs) as model systems. The impact of increased surface energy on phase stability in NPs drives phase dynamics under ambient conditions. This thesis describes the development of in-situ cinematographic recording techniques for investigating phase dynamics using nanoparticles (NPs) as model systems. The suitable experimental platform realized the simultaneous high spatial and temporal resolution for in-situ observations of phase transitions. The impact of increased surface energy on phase stability in NPs drives phase dynamics under ambient conditions. By leveraging this, nano-specific polymorphs and the energy profile of structural fluctuation on NPs of inorganic compounds were identified at atomic resolution in real space. The surface energy-driven phase dynamics revealed here provide new guidelines for controlling nanomaterial structures and expanding the scope of future material exploration.