Ultrafast heat transfer in single palladium nanocrystals seen with an X-ray free-electron laser

Abstract We report transient highly strained structural states in individual palladium (Pd) nanocrystals, electronically heated using an optical laser, which precede their uniform thermal expansion. Using an X-ray free-electron laser probe, the evolution of individual 111 Bragg peaks is measured as a function of delay time at various laser fluences. Above a laser fluence threshold at a sufficient pump-probe delay, the Bragg peak splits into multiple peaks, indicating heterogeneous strain, before returning to a single peak, corresponding to even heat distribution throughout the lattice expanded crystal. Our findings are supported by a lattice displacement and strain model of a single nanocrystal at different delay times, which agrees with the experimental data. Our observations have implications for understanding femtosecond laser interactions with metals and the potential photo-catalytic performance of Pd.

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Publication Details

Journal
Communications Materials
Published
2026-01-15
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-025-01063-z
Primary Topic
Laser Material Processing Techniques
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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Ultrafast heat transfer in single palladium nanocrystals seen with an X-ray free-electron laser

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Ultrafast heat transfer in single palladium nanocrystals seen with an X-ray free-electron laser

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article en

Abstract

Abstract We report transient highly strained structural states in individual palladium (Pd) nanocrystals, electronically heated using an optical laser, which precede their uniform thermal expansion. Using an X-ray free-electron laser probe, the evolution of individual 111 Bragg peaks is measured as a function of delay time at various laser fluences. Above a laser fluence threshold at a sufficient pump-probe delay, the Bragg peak splits into multiple peaks, indicating heterogeneous strain, before returning to a single peak, corresponding to even heat distribution throughout the lattice expanded crystal. Our findings are supported by a lattice displacement and strain model of a single nanocrystal at different delay times, which agrees with the experimental data. Our observations have implications for understanding femtosecond laser interactions with metals and the potential photo-catalytic performance of Pd.

Communications MaterialsVol. 7(1)
Brookhaven National Laboratory (US), London Centre for Nanotechnology (GB), University College London (GB), European X-Ray Free-Electron Laser (DE)
U.S. Department of Energy, Boston College, Office of Science, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Basic Energy Sciences, Brookhaven National Laboratory
Openalex Percentile: Top 99%
Laser Material Processing Techniques
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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