A novel route to prepare and characterize Sn-Bi nanoparticles

A sonochemical method of synthesis for Sn-Bi nanoalloy directly from bulk Sn-Bi alloy is introduced in this paper. The nanoparticles were found to be monodispersed and the size distribution was influenced by the ultrasonic power. The formation and composition of the as-prepared Sn-Bi nanoparticles were revealed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravimetry (TG), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). It was found that the Sn-Bi eutectic alloy nanoparticles consisted of the tetragonal phase of tin and the rhombohedral phase of bismuth. In addition, we also found the powder had excellent antiwear properties through tribological test results.