The effect of matrix on melting and solidification behaviours of embedded Pb-Sn alloy nanoparticles

The present investigation is aimed at understanding the effect of a matrix on the phase transformation of biphasic embedded Pb–Sn alloy nanoparticles. The melting and solidification behaviours of eutectic (Pb_26.1Sn_73.9) nanoparticles embedded in icosahedral (IQC) as well as decagonal quasicrystalline (DQC) matrix have been studied. Electron microscopic observations reveal that the major portion of the alloy nanoparticle consists of body-centred tetragonal β-(Sn) with face-centred cubic (Pb) constituting the cap. (Pb) bears specific orientation relationships (OR) with the surrounding IQC matrix, whereas β-(Sn) does not have any specific OR. For alloy particles embedded in the DQC matrix, both (Pb) and β-(Sn) bear specific OR. In case of IQC matrix, differential scanning calorimetric measurements reveal sharp melting but diffuse solidification peaks for the embedded nanoparticles. On the other hand, sharp melting and solidification peaks are observed for the nanoparticles embedded in the DQC matrix. The IQC and DQC are heat-treated at different temperatures to observe the effect of the matrix on the phase transformation of the alloy nanoparticles. The formation of well- developed facets in the nano-particles and defects in the matrix have been found to play a crucial role in determining the phase transformation of the alloy nanoparticles in the heat-treated samples. The experimental observations are rationalized using available literature.