Low-temperature solid-state dissolution of carbon atoms into aluminum nanoparticles

Disintegration of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into C atoms and dissolution into Al nanoparticles is achieved by mechanically grinding two materials together. This low-temperature solid-state dissolution process involves several steps: (i) mixing CNTs with Al particles; (ii) Al nanoparticle formation; (iii) disintegration of CNTs into C atoms; and (iv) embedding of C atoms into Al nanoparticles. C atom are embedded into Al nanoparticles up to a level of ∼50 wt.% via the formation of an amorphous phase. This enhances hardness by more than 50%.