A strategy for simulating Electron Energy-Loss Near-Edge Structures of nanoparticles: application to size effects in GdO

T. Épicier , J.-C. Le Bossé , P. Perriat , S. Roux , O. Tillement

Nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted a considerable interest in the last decades, owing to their remarkable physical and chemical properties. The most important characteristic of NPs is the size effect, that is, their properties differ from that of the corresponding bulk material. We will focus here on Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy (EELS) investigations of GdO NPs of different and controlled sizes. EELS spectra near the O-K edge of GdO were recorded and compared with feff8.2 ELNES simulations. The calculation of the EELS response from small particles by the feff code raises some particular problems which have been carefully examined and partially solved. The simulations are in fair agreement with experiment and reveal the existence of size effects.

Mots clés: Physical Sciences

Domaines: Physique [physics]

T. Épicier, J.-C. Le Bossé, P. Perriat, S. Roux, O. Tillement. A strategy for simulating Electron Energy-Loss Near-Edge Structures of nanoparticles: application to size effects in GdO. European Physical Journal: Applied Physics, 2011, 54 (3), pp.33511. ⟨10.1051/epjap/2011100440⟩. ⟨hal-00706165⟩