Abstract
X-Y composite nanoparticles, in which X are Al, Cu, Ge and Si, and Y are In, Zn and Mg, were prepared by the condensation of Y vapor onto flying X nanoparticles which were produced in advance by a gas-evaporation technique. The structural and morphological observation of these nanoparticles was carried out by means of a transmission electron microscope.
It has been found that each Al-In particle is composed of an Al sphere which is replaced in part by an In crystallite, where the Si-In particles are composed of Si spheres with In crystallites attached to the neck of neckelace-like Si particles. A Cu-Zn particle or a Ge-Mg particle grown under the appropriate preparation connditions was also found to be composed of two phases of Cu-Zn alloy and Zn or Ge and MgzGe, respectively, where the latter surrounds the former in both systems. Their morphological features are discussed in relation to the growth process with reference to their phase diagrams.
