SummaryThe structure of core–shell Cu@silica and Ag@Si nanoparticles obtained in one-step through evaporation of elemental precursors by a high-powered electron beam are investigated. The structure of the core and shell of the particles are investigated in order to elucidate their mechanisms of formation and factors affecting the synthesis. It is proposed that the formation of Cu@silica particles is mainly driven by surface tension differences between Cu and Si while the formation of Ag@Si particles is mainly driven by differences in the vapour concentration of the two components.

Metal-semiconductor Janus-like nanoparticles with the composition tantalum silicide-silicon (TaSi2/Si) were synthesized for the first time by means of an evaporation method utilizing a high-power electron beam. The composition of the synthesized particles were characterized using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), selective area electron diffraction (SAED), and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDX) analysis. The system is compared to previously synthesized core-shell type particles in order to show possible differences responsible for the Janus-like structure forming instead of a core-shell architecture. It is proposed that the production of Janus-like as opposed to core-shell or monophase particles occurs due to the ability of Ta and Si to form compounds and the relative content of Ta and Si atoms in the produced vapour. Based on the results, a potential mechanism of formation for the TaSi2/Si nanoparticles is discussed.

Metal-semiconductor composite Ag-Si nanostructures, including Ag/Si core-shell nanoparti cles, have been synthesized for the first time by a high efficiency evaporation/condensation method using rel ativistic electron beam. In the Ag/Si core-shell nanoparticles, the core is crystalline, while the shell consists of amorphous silicon. It is found that the synthesis of these particles requires taking into account the differ ence in the saturated vapor pressures of evaporated components. The dependences of the particle size on the electron beam power at the evaporation stage and the pressure of argon at the condensation stage have been studied. It is established that (i) the main process of Ag/Si nanoparticle formation is coagulation and (ii) the Si shell formation decreases the size of particles.