Nanoparticles of metals and their alloys

Ondřej Zobač


Nanoparticles (NPs) of metals are defined as particles with diameter from 1 to 100 nm. The main
reason why they exhibit physical and chemical properties different from bulk materials is high
number of atoms on the surface of nanoparticle with low coordination number. Melting point
depression of metallic NPs or NPs of their alloys is of high interest in solder-research.

Ag-Cu, Cu-Ni and Au-Ni nanoalloys were studied in this work. Theoretical part explains calculation
of phase diagram using CALPHAD approach and calculation of surface contribution, which is important
for calculation of NPs phase diagrams.

Experimental part deals with synthesis on NPs in aqueous or non-aqueous solutions under the inert
atmosphere to prevent oxidation of the NPs. The synthesized NPs were characterized by the following
analytic techniques – overall composition using ICP-OES; shape and size via DLS, TEM, HR-TEM, SEM;
structure by XRD, HT-XRD and temperature phase transformations via DSC. Synthesized NPs were used
for viability test of the human ovarian carcinoma cells.