• Generation of mono and multi-metallic nanoparticles is one of the significant works ongoing in the field of nanotechnology.
• There are many methods involved in generation of nano particles, however, it has reported that those process involved high investment costs, difficulty in vacuum maintenance, high power consumption and low yield rate.
• Therefore, there is a requirement to address above issues in efficient manner.

Patent literature describe about a method of synthesizing in-situ multi-metallic nanoparticles through polarity switching in pulsed erosion machining process.

Further the patent is described about an apparatus for generating multi-metallic nanoparticles described in smart-chart and exemplary figures.

The apparatus comprises of multi-tool electrodes and twin-head tool with two different tool holding chuck.

To generate multi-metallic nanoparticles, the stepper motor-controlled Z-axis feeding is designed to feed the multi-pin electrodes to produce nanoparticles.

The process steps as claimed: 

1. First step describes about submerging a tool electrode & workpiece electrode separated by inter-electrode gap in the dielectric fluid.
2. Second step describes about ionization of dielectric fluid by employing potential difference between a tool electrode & workpiece electrode to generate spark discharge to remove the material.
3. Third step describes about quenching the evaporated metallic material in dielectric fluid leading to the rapid dispersion of ions.

Figs.1(A,B,C,Ci):  Illustrates CAD Drawings and multi pin arrangement, A. Machine structure in detail, B shows isometric view of the machine, C. shows Front view of the machine, D . ; Ci is an inset of C shows enlarged view of the multi-pin tool, 14-pin width and 15-pitch distance.

Fig 2:  Illustrates FESEM images of silver nanoparticles generated in different fluids.

Fig 3:  Illustrates HRTEM images of silver -copper & silver-gold nanoparticles.