Characterization of Metal Aggregates by Scanning Microscopy: Particle Sizes and Space Distribution in Intermetallic Particles

Authors

M. O. Delcourt, Université Paris-Sud, France
F. Yala, Université Paris-Sud, France
E. Merlen, Institut Français du Pétrole, France
S. Remita, Université Paris-Sud, France
N. Keghouche, Université Paris-Sud, France
E. Delarue, Université Paris-Sud, France

Abstract

Various metal aggregates prepared using ionizing radiation were studied by microscopy techniques. A metal deposit onto a carbon felt obtained from solutions containing Pt and Ru was shown to consist of nanometric particles containing both metals. Another study deals with a subnanometric silver aggregate. The nuclearity of the aggregate was studied by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Additional information from pulse radiolysis experiments allowed the determination of the Ag₇³⁺ stoichiometry.

The third material consisted of Ag/Pd submicron powders (70/30 or 75/25% w/w) used in electronics, and made of spherical bimetallic grains; X-ray diffraction showed segregation. The spatial distribution of each metal was obtained by combining space-resolved X-ray microanalysis in the transmission electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and secondary ion mass spectrometry. Each grain was shown to be core/rind structured (core: pure Ag; rind: 10-15 nm thick 11% Ag/89% Pd w/w alloy).

Recommended Citation

Delcourt, M. O.; Yala, F.; Merlen, E.; Remita, S.; Keghouche, N.; and Delarue, E. (1994) "Characterization of Metal Aggregates by Scanning Microscopy: Particle Sizes and Space Distribution in Intermetallic Particles," Scanning Microscopy: Vol. 8: No. 3, Article 2.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/microscopy/vol8/iss3/2