Thermal stability of Sb/Sb2O3 composite nanoparticles

Spherical Sb/Sb2O3 composite nanoparticles ∼80nm in diameter were synthesized by innovated hybrid induction and laser heating (HILH). Under the irradiation of 80kV electronic beams for 3min, the aligned nanoparticles were welded into the Y-type nanorods, indicating their instability. Moreover, after annealed at ≥400°C for 1h in air, the Sb/Sb2O3 nanoparticles exhibit thermal instability. Their shape varies from the spherical nanoparticles, through the regular polygon nanoparticles, irregular polygon microparticles into the spear-like microparticles, as the annealing temperature increases from 400 to 600°C. Beyond 500°C, the Sb content inside them completely disappears. The metallic Sb inside the Sb/Sb2O3 nanoparticles is responsible for their instability.