Thermal Plasma Synthesis of Mg-Ni Nanoparticles

In this study, a 30 kW RF plasma reactor is used to synthesize metallic (Ni) and intermetallic (Mg₂Ni) nanoparticles along with carbon-encapsulated Ni. The system was configured with injection probes at the top and bottom of the torch to facilitate the synthesis of compounds as well as core-shell particle structures. Materials used as precursors include methane, Ni, Mg, and pre-alloyed Mg₂Ni powder. By feeding Ni together with methane, nickel nanoparticles encapsulated with 6-10 layers of graphite were produced. The core-shell particles and other samples collected were analyzed using X-ray diffraction and electron imaging techniques and were found to be spherical in shape and less than 100 nm in diameter.