Synthesis and formation mechanism of Ag–Ni alloy nanoparticles at room temperature

• Ag–Ni nanoparticles were prepared at room temperature.
• Single crystal structure and five-fold twinned structure were observed.
• Free energy of two kinds of particle structures were calculated.
• It is the original nuclei structures that decided the final particle structures.

Ag–Ni nanoparticles were prepared with a chemical reduction method in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) used as a stabilizing agent. During the synthesis of Ag–Ni nanoparticles, silver nitrate was used as the Ag+ source while nickel sulfate hexahydrate was used as Ni2+ source. Mixed solutions of Ag+ source and Ni2+ source were used as the precursors and sodium borohydride was used as the reducing agent. Five ratios of Ag+/Ni2+ (9:1, 3:1, 1:1, 1:3, and 1:9) suspensions were prepared in the corresponding precursors. Ag–Ni alloy nanoparticles were obtained with this method at room temperature. Scanning electronic microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectrum (EDS), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) were used to characterize the morphology, composition and crystal structure of the nanoparticles. The crystal structure was also investigated with X-ray diffraction (XRD). In all five Ag/Ni ratios, two kinds of particle structures were observed that are single crystal structure and five-fold twinned structure respectively. Free energy of nanoparticles with different crystal structures were calculated at each Ag/Ni ratio. Calculated results revealed that, with identical volume, free energy of single crystal particle is lower than multi-twinned particle and the difference becomes smaller with the increase of particle size; increase of Ni content will lead the increase of free energy for both structures. Formation of different crystal structures are decided by the structure of the original nuclei at the very early stage of the reduction process.