Direct observation of order in the liquid at a solid–liquid interface by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), image simulation and image analysis were used to examine the atomic structure of the (211) solid-liquid interface between crystalline Pd3Si and amorphous Pd80Si20. Analysis of the intensities in HRTEM images provide direct experimental evidence of atomic order in the first several layers of the Liquid adjacent to the crystalline phase, as predicted by most theoretical analyses. The effect of imaging conditions on the interpretation of the HRTEM images is discussed.