Gradient nanostructured metallic materials with a gradual change of grain boundary and dislocation density display unprecedent mechanical properties. Herein
we uncover a gradient of point defects concentration and concomitant gradient bandgap (
E
g
) narrowing in metal oxide nanoparticles processed by a combination of severe shearing and frictional sliding deformation. Using the valence electron-energy loss spectroscopy technique
we find a gradual decrease of
E
g
from 2.93 eV in the interior to 2.43 eV at the edge of the high-pressure torsion processed ZnO flake-shaped particle. This work paves the way to strain engineering of gradient-structured metal oxide semiconductors for unique functional properties.
IMPACT STATEMENT
We uncover a gradient of oxygen vacancy concentration and concomitant bandgap narrowing in an individual metal oxide nanoparticle processed by a combination of severe shearing and frictional sliding deformation.
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references
Zhan W. Band gap mapping of alloyed ZnO using probe-corrected and monochromated STEM-EELS [dissertation]. University of Oslo; 2018. (Open in a new window)Google Scholar