Influence of dose and ion concentration on formation of binary Al–Ni alloy nanoclusters

Colloidal Al–Ni nanoclusters were prepared in an aqueous polyvinyl alcohol solution containing aluminum chloride and nickel chloride as metal precursors, polyvinyl alcohol as a capping agent, isopropanol as a scavenger of hydroxyl radicals, and distilled water as a solvent. Gamma irradiations were carried out in a 60Co gamma source chamber at doses up to 100 kGy. The nanocluster properties were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–visible spectrophotometry, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). By controlling the dose and precursor concentration, nanoclusters with different particle sizes were obtained. The average particle diameter increased with increase of precursor concentration and decreased with increase of dose. This is owing to the competition between nucleation, growth, and aggregation processes in the formation of nanoclusters during irradiation.

► Synthesized Al–Ni bimetallic nanoparticles by the gamma-ray induced method.
► Examined how changes in ion concentration affect particle size.
► Increasing dose can decrease the size of bimetallic nanoparticles.
► Nanoparticles in uniform size distribution are obtained at higher dose.
► Nucleation and aggregation rates can change the size of nanoparticles.