Synthesis of copper nanopowders using electron-beam evaporation at atmospheric pressure of inert gas

Abstract

This work is devoted to the description and analysis of the technique used to obtain copper nanopowder by substance evaporation with the help of a powerful electron beam. The method possesses the following features: high yield, the possibility of obtaining nonoxidized copper, it works at atmospheric pressure, and the possibility of varying the parameters of the powders to be obtained directly in the process of synthesis. The possibility of efficiently obtaining nonoxidized copper using a closed cycle of inert gas circulation has been implemented. Copper nanopowders of a spherical shape with a diameter from 15 to 700 nm have been obtained. The dependences of the performance and specific surface area of the powders on the parameters of the production process for various evaporation modes are obtained. The factors affecting the size of the particles to be obtained (modes of boiling and cooling and configuration of the vaporization region) are analyzed. The peculiarities of the process used to obtain copper nanopowders are revealed. This allowed us to create a system for monitoring and controlling the parameters of the process, which made it possible to increase its performance and broaden the range of varying nanopowder properties.