PALLADIUM NANOPARTICLES GROWN BY HYDROGEN AND DEUTERIUM ION-BOMBARDMENT

Palladium particles with nm dimensions are shown to grow on polycrysta lline Pd interacting with low-energy hydrogen or deuterium ions. The P d particles thus formed are mostly spherical in geometry, dispersing i n the amorphous matrix. To interpret this unique mode of particle grow th, we hypothesize that the particles are solidified from liquid dropl ets. Hydrogen or deuterium ion bombardment of Pd is thus supposed to i nvolve an exothermic process, which may play a vital role in nucleatin g Pd particles in the matrix and developing the nucleated particles.