Nanostructural evolution of Zn by dry roller vibration milling at room temperature*

Abstract

Abstract It remains to date to produce stable nanostructures of single element by dry mechanical method at room temperature on a large scale. Here we report nanostructural evolution of zinc by dry roller vibration milling at room temperature, which leads to structurally near perfect zinc flakes sized 3–5 nm in diameter. The synthesized nanostructures are single crystalline, transparent, uniform, randomly oriented, almost equiaxed, and mostly free from defects. The evolution seems to open a way to optimize zinc nanostructures by the mechanical method, offer valuable references to prepare nanostructures of other metals optimally, and shed light on how to lower the size limit by mechanical milling. Single elemental metal nanostructures with excellent properties give rise to new opportunities in scientific research and development of nanotechnology. *Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50375100) and Shanghai High Educstion Foundation for Development of Science and Technology (...