In situ HREM observation of solid-liquid interface

Abstract

Foil specimens of InSb were heated above 200°C inside electron microscopes and non-congruent melting of InSb, due to the preferential evaporation of Sb, was found to result in the formation of In-rich liquid droplets dispersed in a matrix of solid InSb. The solid-liquid interfaces were observed by the lattice-fringe technique and those parallel to the {111} plane were found to be smooth on an atomic scale. The results are discussed in terms of Jackson's α-parameter.