Synthesis and Characterization of Pure Ni and Ni-Sn Intermetallic Nanoparticles

The present research focused on the synthesis of Ni and Ni-Sn nanoparticles via a chemical reduction method using hydrazine hydrate. The syntheses were performed applying highly purified water or diethylene glycol as solvent. The produced nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and powder X-ray diffraction. The as-synthesized Ni-Sn nanoparticles with nominal starting ratios Ni:Sn = 3:1, 3:2, and 3:4 consisted of different amounts of pure Ni and a low-temperature Ni₃Sn₂ phase. It was found that all synthesized nanopowders had a spherical shape with the largest average size for pure Ni and decreasing size for particles containing Sn. X-ray diffraction showed that all synthesized nanoparticles contained Ni and a low-temperature Ni₃Sn₂ phase independent of the initial molar ratio; while Ni₃Sn and Ni₃Sn₄ could not be detected.