Formation and characterization of intermetallic Fe-Sn nanoparticles synthesized by an arc discharge method

Intermetallic Fe-Sn nanoparticles were prepared by a DC arc discharge method and investigated using X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. The synthesized nanoparticles have a shell/core structure with an SnO2 shell of 5-10 nm in thickness and a core of polycrystalline intermetallic compounds. It was found that the intermetallic compounds FeSn2 and Fe3Sn2 were generated and coexist with the Sn phase as a single nanoparticle. The DSC analysis showed that Fe-Sn nanoparticles have high oxidation resistance in air. A mechanism of the nanoparticle formation was also interpreted on the basis of experimental results and thermodynamic principles.