Structural and thermal properties of a Bi nano-plane embedded in amorphous germanium

Abstract

The synthesis by pulsed laser deposition of a bismuth nano-plane embedded in an amorphous germaniummatrix is reported. The structural changeswere studied by Raman spectroscopy as a function of temperature. Upon heating, the Bi nano-plane melts and, as the sample is cooled, it re-crystallizes at a temperature well below the melting point. The results show a broad melting–solidification hysteresis cycle (170 K) that is compared to the ones obtained earlier on nanoparticles. Furthermore, a metal-induced crystallization effect was also observed in the germanium matrix.