Samples composted of chemically synthesized Au nanoparticles (NPs) (16.0±2.0 nm) embedded within a planar silica film are used as model system to investigate the evolution of a second phase under irradiation when the temperature and the ion stopping power are changed. Samples are irradiated with 4 MeV Au2+ ions and 4 MeV Br2+ ions for temperature ranging from 30 °C up to 800 °C and for fluences up to 8×1016 cm−2. We show that at room temperature the complete dissolution of the NPs leads to the formation of smaller precipitates with a narrower size distribution, i.e., 2.0±0.3 nm. However, when the temperature is increased and/or the nuclear stopping power is decreased, a reduction in the dissolution rate was observed. This leads to the formation of a bimodal size distribution. Finally, the evolution of the density of the precipitates with the temperature is discussed in term of the thermal stability of the irradiation-induced defects within the silica matrix.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.