Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2026
08:40
Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production
Published on: December 6, 2021
Gas-phase synthesis and time-resolved composition analysis of CuZn nanoparticles
Linnéa Jönsson1,2, Vinzent Olszok3, Dániel Megyeri4
1Solid State Physics, Lund University Lund 221 00 Sweden linnea.jonsson27@gmail.com.
Nanoscale Advances
|July 11, 2026
Summary
Spark ablation physically synthesizes tunable bimetallic copper-zinc (CuZn) nanoparticles, overcoming limitations of wet chemical methods. Preferential zinc evaporation drives compositional evolution, enabling broad alloy access for catalysis.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Physical Chemistry
Background:
- Bimetallic copper-zinc (CuZn) nanoparticles are crucial for catalysis.
- Conventional wet chemical synthesis limits access to the full compositional range of CuZn nanoparticles.
- Gas-phase synthesis offers an alternative route for nanoparticle fabrication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the physical synthesis of CuZn nanoparticles across a broad compositional range using spark ablation.
- To investigate the mechanisms governing the temporal evolution of nanoparticle composition during synthesis.
- To provide insights into tunable alloy composition via gas-phase synthesis for catalytic applications.
Main Methods:
- Spark ablation of alloyed CuZn feedstocks (Cu25Zn75, Cu50Zn50, Cu75Zn25).
- Characterization using (scanning) transmission electron microscopy ((S)TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) for internal mixing.
- Time-resolved techniques including X-ray fluorescence (XRF), optical emission spectroscopy (OES), in-flight inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and in-flight X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to study compositional evolution.
Main Results:
- Successful synthesis of CuZn nanoparticles with complete internal mixing across a broad compositional range via spark ablation.
- Observed pronounced temporal evolution in nanoparticle composition during continuous generation, attributed to preferential Zn evaporation from the feedstock.
- Established a dynamic steady state in nanoparticle composition upon prolonged sparking, indicating stable alloy formation.
Conclusions:
- Spark ablation is an effective physical method for synthesizing bimetallic CuZn nanoparticles with tunable compositions.
- Preferential zinc evaporation is the primary mechanism driving the observed compositional evolution.
- This gas-phase synthesis approach provides access to a wide range of CuZn alloy compositions relevant for catalytic and other applications.
