A design of a nanometer size metal particle generator: Thermal decomposition of metal carbonyls

We have developed a method which can produce both pure and alloy nanometer size metal particles in a large scale. This method combines a thermal decomposition of metal carbonyls with a collision induced clustering. Metal carbonyls are thermally decomposed with a hot filament and resultant bare metal atoms undergo collisions to produce nanometer size metal particles. This method requires a very simple experimental setup even though it is a high efficiency production method. Using this method, we have produced, high purity Fe, Mo, and alloy Fe/Mo nanometer size metal particles. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0034-6748(99)03111-1].