PbTe nanocrystals were synthesized and then reacted with a toluene solution containing AuCl(3). Depending on the reaction conditions and on the starting PbTe nanocrystals morphology, different kinds of nanostructures have been obtained: single defect-free PbTe nanocrystals with and without an external amorphous oxide shell, crystalline-Au core/amorphous Pb(x)Te(y)Au(z) shell structure, large balloon-shaped (or mushroom-shaped) Au domain attached via its apex to the surface of the nanocrystals. Structure and composition of these different types of nanostructure have been studied by means of C(s)-corrected High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) and Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM) together with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (EDX), respectively. These nanostructures have been found sensitive to the high-intensity electron beam and its effect has been investigated.
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