Nanopowders Created by Irradiating Brass with Relativistic Electrons

Abstract

The paper deals with changes in the stoichiometry of nanopowders obtained under staged irradiation of a brass ingot placed in a graphite crucible. Composite core-shell CuO/ZnO nanoparticles, copper nanoparticles, and copper and zinc oxides were obtained. The use of a relativistic electron accelerator is necessary to produce nanopowders on an industrial scale. Transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive analysis of the obtained nanoparticles were carried out. Thermodynamic calculation of the temperature dependence of the equilibrium content of copper and zinc is presented for the condensed and gas phases. The formation mechanism of CuO/ZnO composite nanoparticles is discussed.