MoNiN Nanoparticle Generation by Spark Discharge.

Spark ablation is an advantageous method for the generation of metallic nanoparticles with defined particle sizes and compositions. The reaction of the metal particles with the carrier gas during the synthesis and, therefore, the incorporation of those light elements into structural voids or even compound formation was confirmed for hydrides and oxides but has only been suspected to occur for nitrides. In this study, dispersed nanoparticles of MoNiN and Mo with Janus morphology, and defined particle sizes were obtained by spark discharge generation as a result of carrier gas ionization and characterized using transmission electron microscopy and powder X-ray diffraction.