Aerosol route synthesis of nanocrystalline copper-nickel (CuNi) alloy particles

Nanocrystalline copper-nickel (CuNi) alloy particles were produced from aqueous solutions of high purity copper and nickel nitrates by hydrogen reduction assisted ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP-HR) method. CuNi alloy particles were obtained followed by reduction of generated aerosols in hydrogen (H₂) atmosphere. The effects of total metal ions concentration of precursor solution (0.1 M, 0.3 M and 0.5 M) and process temperatures (700,800 and 900 °C) on the particle size, morphology, crystal structure and crystallite size of the CuNi alloy particles were investigated. Particle characterization studies were performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. The crystallite sizes of the particles are around 37 nm, and change slightly depending on process parameters. Results reveal that the precursor solution strongly influences the particle size of the produced CuNi alloy particles. Spherical nanocrystalline CuNi alloy particles were prepared in the particle size range between 90 and 610 nm at different temperatures.