The structure of Xe precipitates with sizes in several nanometers
embedded in Al is known to be stable and its structure is well
confirmed. But knowledge about the structure of Xe precipitates with
nanometer sizes is very limited. There are difficulties in observing
such small structures embedded in a crystalline matrix. An off-Bragg
condition is used to observe diffraction patterns, dark-field, and
high-resolution transmission electron microscopy images. The structure
of Xe precipitates with sizes of about 2 nm and smaller is observed and
confirmed. They are in an fcc structure and their orientation
relationship with the Al matrix is similar to that of larger
crystalline Xe precipitates or in an undefined structure. The lattice
spacing or atomic distance in such nanometer-sized Xe precipitates is
smaller than those of larger Xe precipitates embedded in Al matrix.
There is a trend that as the size becomes smaller, the precipitates are
more likely to have an undefined structure.