Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Bulk diffusion of metal particles on ceramic substrates

Nature volume 348, pages 430–432 (1990)Cite this article

Abstract

THE dynamical behaviour of metal particles or films deposited on ceramic surfaces is of great importance in heterogeneous catalysis, metal brazing of ceramics and microelectronics. The existing understanding of, for example, metal particle sintering or dispersion has tended to be based on static, room-temperature ex situ studies, which have considered only surface spreading of the metal1–3. Here we present evidence from in situ electron microscopy for the diffusion of metal particles through the bulk of a ceramic substrate. We have studied the dynamics of small copper particles on the surface of amorphous alumina in various oxidizing and reducing atmospheres (hydrogen, oxygen and carbon monoxide). Under oxygen, particles first diffuse through the substrate with little change in shape, but at later times particles spread laterally (by surface or sub-surface diffusion) to a configuration of lower surface energy. We suggest that these diffusion processes may be important in electronics applications, which involve similar combinations of materials.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Nakayama, T., Arai, M. & Nishiyama, Y. J. Catal. 87, 108–115 (1984).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Wang, T. & Schmidt, L. D. J. Catal. 70, 187 (1981).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Burkhardt, J. & Schmidt, L. D. J. Catal. 116, 240–251 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Ruckenstein, E. in Growth of Metal Clusters (ed. Bourdon, J.) 57–63 (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1981).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Wynblatt, P. & Gjostein, N. A. Prog. Solid. St. Chem. 9, 21–57 (1975).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Ruckenstein, E. & Lee, S. H. J. Catal. 86, 457–463 (1984); 104, 259–278 (1987).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Sushumna, I. et al. J. Catal. 94, 239–288 (1985).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Tatarchuk, B. J. & Dumesic, J. A. J. Catal. 70, 308–346 (1981).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Gai, P. L. Phil. Mag. A43, 841–855 (1981).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Gai, P. L. J. Solid. St. Chem. 49, 25–42 (1983).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Boyes, E. D., Gai, P. L. & Warwick, C. Nature 313, 666–668 (1985).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Deroune, E. G. et al. J. Catal. 85, 187–196 (1984).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Wong, C. & McCabe, R. J. Catal. 119, 47–64 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Madix, R. J. & Bowker, M. Surf. Sci. 102, 542–553 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Bond, G. C. & Namijo, S. N. J. Catal. 118, 507–510 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Gazecki, J. et al. Surf. Sci. 22, 1034–1040 (1985).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Balooch, M. et al. Surf. Sci. 46, 358–366 (1974).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Wanke, S. E. & Flynn, P. C. Catal. Rev. Sci. Engng 12, 93–135 (1975).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Shewmon, P. G. Diffusion in Solids (McGraw Hill, New York, 1963).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Cottrell, A. H. Introduction to Metallurgy (Arnold, London, 1971).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Brebec, G. et al. Acta metall. 28, 327–333 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Ajayan, P. M. & Marks, L. D. Nature 338, 139–141 (1989).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. P. L. Gal

    Present address: Central Research and Development Department, E. I. Du Pont de Nemours Inc., Experimental Station, Wilmington, Delaware, 19880-0356, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, 0X1 3PH, UK

    P. L. Gal & B. C. Smith

  2. Film Research and Technology, Imperial Chemical Industries pic, The Heath, Runcorn, WA7 4QE, UK

    G. Owen

  3. Unilever pic, PO Box 760, 3000 DK, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    B. C. Smith

Authors
  1. P. L. Gal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. B. C. Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. Owen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gal, P., Smith, B. & Owen, G. Bulk diffusion of metal particles on ceramic substrates. Nature 348, 430–432 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1038/348430a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/348430a0

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing