Understanding the phase formation of binary nanoparticles in electrically exploding twin-wires

In this paper, experimental and computational results characterizing the preparation of binary nanoparticles by electrically exploding twin-wires composed of aluminum and silver elements are reported. Three kinds of samples in parallel and twisted arrangements are exploded to collect the binary nanoparticles. The mean diameter of the binary nanoparticles decreases with increasing energy deposited into per unit volume from 24.1 nm at 36.6 J/dm3 to 23.3 nm at 43.4 J/dm3. The phase states of the nanoparticles derived from different twin-wire configurations are analyzed. The surface scanning data of the binary nanoparticles derived from the exploding twin-wires in parallel arrangement reveal that the weight percentage of elements is consistent with the initial twin-wire load counterpart. The phase states with homogeneous elemental distribution and phase separation are observed in the collected binary nanoparticles. A computational model based on the molecular dynamics method is constructed to account for the mixing of the nanoclusters of aluminum and silver elements. The computational results manifest that the temperature at the onset of the aggregation exerts a decisive influence on the phase state of the binary nanoparticles. This paper helps in understanding the phase formation of the binary nanoparticles in electrically exploding twin-wires.