Preparation and structural characterization of CuNi nanoalloys obtained by polymeric precursor method

Bimetallic CuxNi100-x nanoalloys (x=20, 40, 50, 60 and 80) were prepared by the polymeric precursor method using citric acid as chelating agent and ethylene glycol as polymerizing agent. CuNi nanoalloys were obtained after calcination in H-2/N-2 atmosphere at 600 degrees C for 15 min. The different products were characterized by thermal analysis (TGA/DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron micro-scopy (TEM) and atomic absorption analysis (AAS). The XRD patterns show the formation of a single fcc structure, characteristic of well crystalline CuNi nanoalloys. TEM studies show nearly spherical nanoparticles with average size of 45 nm. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.