Advances in amorphous nanomaterials: Synthesis, characterization and application

Amorphous state is an important type of thermodynamically meta-stable phase with chaotic atomic packing, i.e. short-range order while long-range disorder. Their highly unsaturated atomic arrangement and isotropic local structure lead to distinct physicochemical behaviors, often surpassing crystalline materials in areas like catalysis, optics, and mechanics. In this review, the thermodynamic and kinetic mechanisms for forming amorphous phase are organized based on solidification process. Then, four typical synthetic strategies of amorphous nanomaterials are provided with the mechanisms of disordered phase growth. Further, we highlight how transmission electron microscopy (TEM) outperforms other characterization-tools in investigating the order and structural evolution in noncrystalline materials. In the application section, the performance of amorphous nanomaterials is evaluated relative to crystalline materials across diverse functional domains. Finally, challenges and perspectives for this booming field are discussed to address future research opportunities.