Synthesis and thermodynamics of Ag–Cu nanoparticles

Delsante, Simona;Borzone, Gabriella;Novakovic, Rada;Piazza, Daniele;Pigozzi, Giancarlo;Janczak Rusch, Jolanta;PILLONI, MARTINA;ENNAS, GUIDO

2015-01-01

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Abstract

Metallic silver, copper, and Ag-Cu nanoparticles (NPs) have been produced by a chemical reduction method. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A side-segregated configuration was observed for the one-pot synthesized Ag-Cu NPs, and the melting temperature depression of about 14 degrees C was found by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A comparison between the new experimental data, the literature data on Ag-Cu bimetallic NPs and the corresponding theoretical values obtained from the Ag-Cu nano-sized phase diagram was done, whereas the melting behaviour of Ag and Cu metal nanoparticles was discussed in the framework of the liquid layer model (LLM).