Co-evaporation of transition metal salt and SiO powder toward copper(or nickel)/silicon-contained composite nanostructures

Graphical abstract: Copper(or nickel)/silicon-contained composite nanostructures were successfully synthesized by co-evaporating SiO powder and corresponding transition metal salts (nickel formate and copper sulfate). Display Omitted Highlights: ► Novel nanostructures were synthesized by co-evaporating SiO and metal salts. ► A pre-sintering process was used in the synthesis of copper/silicon nanocomposites. ► A Ni31Si12/Si/SiO2 nanocomposite was obtained. ► Peapod-like copper/silicon-contained nanocomposites were obtained. ► On the basis of experimental results, the formation mechanism was discussed. -- Abstract: We demonstrate that several novel copper(or nickel)/silicon-contained composite nanostructures were successfully synthesized by co-evaporating SiO powder and corresponding transition metal salts (transition metal organic salt and transition metal inorganic salt), including nickel formate, cobalt acetate, and copper sulfate. The morphologies, compositions, and crystal structures of products were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The results indicate that the morphology and composition of formed copper(or nickel)/silicon-contained composite nanostructures are dramatically influenced by the distance between SiO powder and transition metal salts, or by the pre-sintering temperature of the reactants. The possible formation mechanisms of these composite nanostructures were discussed on the basis of experimental observations.