Particles of Sn and Bi of nm-size were produced by using an electrohydrodynamic technique. The lattice parameters of particles with various grain sizes were measured by means of X-ray diffraction. It was found that the lattice parameters, a and c, of the nm-sized Sn and Bi particles were smaller than the equilibrium lattice parameters of the corresponding Sn and Bi perfect single crystals. With decreasing grain size, the values of a and c, and of the unit-cell volume, decreased. This was attributed to a supersaturation of vacant lattice sites in the particles.

The Lattice Contraction of Nanometre-Sized Sn and Bi Particles Produced by an Electrohydrodynamic Technique. X.F.Yu, X.Liu, K.Zhang, Z.Q.Hu: Journal of Physics - Condensed Matter, 1999, 11[4], 937-44