In situ investigation on the oxidation behavior of a RESn3 film by transmission electron microscopy

An in situ ex-environmental transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study was carried out to investigate the oxidation behavior of RESn3 (RE = Nd, La, Ce) film in a room at 18 +/- 2 degrees C with 20 +/- 5% humidity. The original RESn3 compounds transformed into RE(OH)(3) nanocrystals and Sn clusters. This involved the selective oxidation of RE in RESn3 and the atomic diffusion of Sn atoms. The whole oxidation behavior was discussed from the thermodynamic viewpoint, and a reaction formula was proposed to summarize the oxidation of RESn3 under different ambient conditions. (C) 2011 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.