Highly energetic ions have been previously used to modify the shape of metal nanoparticles embedded in an insulating matrix. In this work, we demonstrate that under suitable conditions, energetic ions can be used not only for shape modification but also for manipulation of nanorod orientation. This observation is made by imaging the same nanorod before and after swift heavy ion irradiation using a transmission electron microscope. Atomistic simulations reveal a complex mechanism of nanorod re-orientation by an incremental change in its shape from a rod to a spheroid and further back into a rod aligned with the beam.

中文翻译：

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通过快速重离子照射控制纳米棒取向

先前已使用高能离子来改变嵌入绝缘基质中的金属纳米粒子的形状。在这项工作中，我们证明在合适的条件下，高能离子不仅可以用于形状修改，还可以用于操纵纳米棒的方向。这种观察是通过使用透射电子显微镜在快速重离子照射前后对同一纳米棒进行成像来进行的。原子模拟揭示了纳米棒重新定向的复杂机制，其形状从棒变为球体，并进一步变回与光束对齐的棒。