Experimental and simulated analysis of Cu nanoparticles produced by cooledsample irradiation

In the present work, the production is reported of Cu nanoparticles, with s izes of 2-5 nm, by proton irradiation with a low controlled temperature for the sample. The process yields aggregates over a crystalline matrix of the same element. The structural evolution of the sample is analyzed from macr oscopic to nanoscopic scales, using optical and election microscopy. The gr ain size and preferential shape-changes of the polycrystalline sheets were obtained by optical chromatic systems. Scanning electron microscopy analysi s was used to study the morphology and composition with an Energy Dispersiv e Spectroscopy (EDS) system, and with the help of transmission electron mic roscopy the lattice matrix of crystal was solved and the nanoparticles' sha pe and size were determined. Molecular simulation tools were used to suppor t the analysis of high-resolution elecron microscopic images and the nanopa rticles' behavior.