Abstract
Isolated amorphous Sb particles are used to obtain information on the crystallization of nanometer-sized particles. The postannealing was carried out between 110 and 150°C for 10 to 90 min and the crystallization ratio was measured by the dark field electron microscopic observation. The activation energy for crystallization shows a particle-size dependence, that is, it increases from 1.85 to 2.01 eV with the decrease in diameter from 30 to 10 nm. The size dependence is discussed in relation to the hydrostatic pressure effect induced by the small surface curvature of the particles.