Synthesis and characterization of single-phase nanocrystalline Ag2Al particles

Single-phase Ag2Al intermetallic nanoparticles, and Ag and Al metallic nanoparticles were synthesized by the flow-levitation (FL) method. Measurements of d-spacings from X-ray diffraction and electron diffraction confirmed that the intermetallic nanoparticles had the hexagonal Ag2Al structure. The morphology, crystal structure and chemical composition of Ag2Al nanoparticles were investigated by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and induction-coupled plasma spectroscopy. A thin amorphous coating was formed around the particles when exposed to air. Based on the XPS measurements, the surface coating of the Ag2Al nanoparticles could most likely be aluminum oxide or silver aluminum oxide. Therefore, the single-phase nanocrystalline Ag2Al intermetallic compound particles can be produced by adjusting some experimental parameters in FL method.