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Gas-phase synthesis and time-resolved composition analysis of CuZn nanoparticles

Jönsson, Linnéa LU ; Olszok, Vinzent ; Megyeri, Dániel ; Krinke, Thomas LU ; Preger, Calle LU orcid ; Rissler, Jenny LU orcid ; Eriksson, Axel LU orcid ; Geretovszky, Zsolt ; Deppert, Knut LU orcid and Weber, Alfred , et al. (2026) In Nanoscale Advances 8(17). p.4804-4815
Abstract
Bimetallic CuZn (brass) nanoparticles are key materials in catalytic applications, yet access to the full compositional range remains challenging using conventional wet chemical synthesis. In this study, we demonstrate the physical synthesis of CuZn nanoparticles across a broad compositional range using spark ablation of alloyed feedstocks (Cu25Zn75, Cu50Zn50, Cu75Zn25). In spark ablation, the nanoparticles are formed directly in the gas phase without the need for post-synthesis treatments and exhibit complete internal mixing, as confirmed by (scanning) transmission electron microscopy ((S)TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). A pronounced evolution over time in nanoparticle composition was observed during continuous... (More)
Bimetallic CuZn (brass) nanoparticles are key materials in catalytic applications, yet access to the full compositional range remains challenging using conventional wet chemical synthesis. In this study, we demonstrate the physical synthesis of CuZn nanoparticles across a broad compositional range using spark ablation of alloyed feedstocks (Cu25Zn75, Cu50Zn50, Cu75Zn25). In spark ablation, the nanoparticles are formed directly in the gas phase without the need for post-synthesis treatments and exhibit complete internal mixing, as confirmed by (scanning) transmission electron microscopy ((S)TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). A pronounced evolution over time in nanoparticle composition was observed during continuous generation. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, a comprehensive set of advanced, time-resolved characterization techniques was employed, including X-ray fluorescence (XRF) of deposited nanoparticles, optical emission spectroscopy (OES) of the spark plasma, in-flight inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and in-flight X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). These complementary characterization methods reveal a gradual compositional evolution linked to changes at the feedstock surface rather than post-formation processes. The results indicate that preferential Zn evaporation governs the temporal evolution of the nanoparticle composition, followed by the establishment of a dynamic steady state during prolonged sparking. Based on the experimental observations, a qualitative mechanism supported by a simple ablation model is proposed to explain the compositional evolution in CuZn spark ablation. Despite the large differences in thermophysical properties between Cu and Zn, a broad Cu–Zn compositional range can be accessed, with stable nanoparticle compositions achieved upon extended operation. This work provides insight into bimetallic nanoparticle formation via spark ablation and how tunable alloy compositions can be achieved via gas-phase synthesis, with direct relevance for catalytic and other composition-sensitive applications. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Nanoparticles
in
Nanoscale Advances
volume
8
issue
17
pages
12 pages
publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
external identifiers
  • pmid:42434364
  • scopus:105044324983
ISSN
2516-0230
DOI
10.1039/d6na00440g
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
a4689be4-dce4-4815-8c34-d49b0c670865
date added to LUP
2026-09-10 14:57:26
date last changed
2026-09-14 12:24:00
@article{a4689be4-dce4-4815-8c34-d49b0c670865,
  abstract     = {{Bimetallic CuZn (brass) nanoparticles are key materials in catalytic applications, yet access to the full compositional range remains challenging using conventional wet chemical synthesis. In this study, we demonstrate the physical synthesis of CuZn nanoparticles across a broad compositional range using spark ablation of alloyed feedstocks (Cu25Zn75, Cu50Zn50, Cu75Zn25). In spark ablation, the nanoparticles are formed directly in the gas phase without the need for post-synthesis treatments and exhibit complete internal mixing, as confirmed by (scanning) transmission electron microscopy ((S)TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). A pronounced evolution over time in nanoparticle composition was observed during continuous generation. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, a comprehensive set of advanced, time-resolved characterization techniques was employed, including X-ray fluorescence (XRF) of deposited nanoparticles, optical emission spectroscopy (OES) of the spark plasma, in-flight inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and in-flight X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). These complementary characterization methods reveal a gradual compositional evolution linked to changes at the feedstock surface rather than post-formation processes. The results indicate that preferential Zn evaporation governs the temporal evolution of the nanoparticle composition, followed by the establishment of a dynamic steady state during prolonged sparking. Based on the experimental observations, a qualitative mechanism supported by a simple ablation model is proposed to explain the compositional evolution in CuZn spark ablation. Despite the large differences in thermophysical properties between Cu and Zn, a broad Cu–Zn compositional range can be accessed, with stable nanoparticle compositions achieved upon extended operation. This work provides insight into bimetallic nanoparticle formation via spark ablation and how tunable alloy compositions can be achieved via gas-phase synthesis, with direct relevance for catalytic and other composition-sensitive applications.}},
  author       = {{Jönsson, Linnéa and Olszok, Vinzent and Megyeri, Dániel and Krinke, Thomas and Preger, Calle and Rissler, Jenny and Eriksson, Axel and Geretovszky, Zsolt and Deppert, Knut and Weber, Alfred and Kohut, Attila and Messing, Maria}},
  issn         = {{2516-0230}},
  keywords     = {{Nanoparticles}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{17}},
  pages        = {{4804--4815}},
  publisher    = {{Royal Society of Chemistry}},
  series       = {{Nanoscale Advances}},
  title        = {{Gas-phase synthesis and time-resolved composition analysis of CuZn nanoparticles}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d6na00440g}},
  doi          = {{10.1039/d6na00440g}},
  volume       = {{8}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}