Arc-Assisted Synthesis of Germanium Nanocrystals in Argon

This paper presents results on the synthesis of germanium nanocrystals in electric arc discharge. During the synthesis, the surface of a germanium anode was heated to the state of surface boiling. Atoms of vaporized germanium were deposited on the surface of a copper substrate. The resulting sample was examined with an electron microscope. The deposited material was shaped as crystalline nanospheres (nanocrystals) with a size ranging from 20 to 200 nm.