Structural analysis and atomic simulation of Ag/BN nanoparticle hybrids obtained by Ag ion implantation

• Ag/BNNP nanohybrids were prepared by Ag ion implantation into hollow BN nanoparticles with a petal-like surface.
• Ag/BNNP nanohybrids with different BNNP structures and various Ag NPs distributions can be fabricated by changing Ag ion energy.
• All observed structural transformations agree well with the MD simulations.
• Novel Ag/BNNP composite nanomaterials are of interest for many structural, functional, and medical applications.

The present paper describes fabrication of Ag/BN nanoparticle hybrids by means of Ag ion implantation into the hollow BN nanoparticles (BNNPs) with a petal-like surface. The structural transformations occurring during Ag ion implantation into BNNPs are studied by low- and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high angle annular dark field scanning TEM (HAADF-STEM) paired with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy mapping. The experimental results are theoretically verified in the framework of the classical molecular dynamics (MD) method. Our results have demonstrated that by changing Ag ion energy in the range of 2–20 kV it is possible to selectively fabricate Ag/BNNP nanohybrids with crystalline or amorphous BNNP structures and various Ag NPs distributions over the BNNP thicknesses.

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