Pd particles supported on ZnO (001) epitaxial thin films, evolution during HRTEM observations

Pd particles were condensed under UHV on ZnO (001) thin films epitaxially grown on mica single crystals. The epitaxial relationships between Pd and ZnO lattices were determined by electron diffraction, (111) Pd//(001) ZnO and [112] Pd//[100] ZnO. A tetrahedral shape of the particles larger than 20 nm was observed, using weak beam dark field electron microscopy. After strong irradiation conditions, an evolution of the structure was observed, which could be due to the formation of PdZn alloy.