Hydrothermal formation of magnetic Ni–Cu alloy nanocrystallites at low temperatures

Magnetic Ni–Cu alloy nanocrystallites with a diameter of about 12 nm have been prepared by a hydrothermal approach with polymer–surfactant complex association at 80 °C. XRD, TEM and ICP-AES were employed to characterize alloy nanocrystallites. The magnetic properties of alloy nanocrystallites were measured using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The influences of polymer–micelle association, temperature and concentration of micelles on the formation of alloy are discussed. Polymer–micelle association provides a way for Ni and Cu to be reduced simultaneously and then occupy the Cu lattice to form Ni–Cu alloy nanocrystallites.