Atomistic mechanism of the formation of a nanometer-sized amorphous metal by Kirkendall effect

▶ A core-shell Ni-Zr nanoparticle was studied. ▶ Molecular dynamics indicates that Ni diffuses into Zr. ▶ An amorphous Ni-Zr layer is formed by Kirkendall diffusion. ▶ A final hollow amorphous nanoparticle is obtained.