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Abstract

In the present study, various (Ag–Cu) nanoalloy particles are embedded in the Ni matrix and synthesized by rapid solidification, namely Ni–3.8 at.% (Ag77–Cu23), Ni–4 at.% (Ag60–Cu40), and Ni–4.8 at.% (Ag24–Cu76), to understand the effect of matrix on nanoparticles. The detailed TEM study reveals that Ni–3.8 at.% (Ag77–Cu23) and Ni–4 at.% (Ag60–Cu40) show a single phase of (Ag), while Ni–4.8 at.% (Ag24–Cu76) indicates the presence of bi-phasic (Cu)–(Ag) alloy nanoparticles. Furthermore, thermal cycling was carried out using DSC to study the influence of solid-solution properties. Unlike Ni–3.8 at.% (Ag77–Cu23) and Ni–4 at.% (Ag60–Cu40), Ni–4.8 at.% (Ag24–Cu76) shows no changes while melting and cooling. Further, in situ TEM investigation of Ni–4.8 at.% (Ag24–Cu76) nanoparticle reveals that the bi-phasic nanoparticles undergo fully solid-state transformation to single-phase (Ag) nanoparticles prior to melting while heating. Theoretical studies on the phase stability of Ag–Cu–Ni at the nanoscale were undertaken to validate the experimental results, offering insight into the phase change of these solid-solution nanoparticles in the Ni matrix.