Evidence for cubic phase in deposited germanium nanocrystals

Germanium nanocrystals with sizes ranging from 1 to 5 nm are condensed out of the gas phase in helium or argon buffer-gas atmospheres and subsequently deposited. The generated particle sizes are found to depend on the buffer gas, with helium yielding a narrower size distribution than argon and argon exhibiting a stronger pressure dependence of the produced particle sizes. Structural analysis of nanoparticles with average sizes around 5 nm reveals the bulklike cubic (diamond) phase - in contrast to recent experiments which suggest the tetragonal phase for similar-sized particles. These results are explained in terms of particle formation dynamics.