The atomic-scale studies of the behavior of the crystal dissolution in a molten metal

The early atomic-scale dissolution behavior of Cu in a molten pure Sn was studied by transmission electron microscope (TEM). The innermost region adjacent to the Cu lattice is an amorphous Cu–Sn diffusion zone that contains dispersed ε-Cu3Sn nanocrystalline cells. The zigzag morphology reveal between Cu lattice and amorphous Cu–Sn diffusion zone. The height of step is about 0.2–1.1 nm on the terrace. The formation of zigzag morphology is initiated by preferential removal of Cu atoms from the kink sites on the crystal surface. The dissolved atoms form an amorphous Cu–Sn diffusion zone. This diffusion zone is a non-saturated state prior to further formation of crystalline cell.