ABSTRACT
Bismuth nano-particles with sizes ranging from 2 to 17 nm were found to be transformed among three different structural phases using ultra high-vacuum TEM. Below 8.5 nm, the structure fluctuated among cubic, rhombic and twin structure like a quasi-liquid phase. Between 8.5 and 11 nm, bismuth particles had a core-shell structure: the core of the cubic structure is surrounded by eight crystallites of the rhombic structure. Each rhombic crystallite has (111), (110) and (112) facets of low surface energies, and has dislocations at the boundaries between them. Above 11 nm, the particle had rhombic structure.
