Fabrication of fine brass nanoparticles by 3 phase spark discharge

We present an easy fabrication method for fine brass nanoparticles suspension. The nanopaticles were fabricated by a gas, liquid and solid 3 phase small capacity-coupled spark discharge system. The energy consumption of single pulse discharge in this system was only about 1% of traditional spark discharge method. The principle of small capacity coupled spark discharge, and “thin line effect” for material erosion were discussed. No surfactant and expensive solution be used. The samples were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectrometry. The diameter of some brass nanoparticles was in the range of ∼2–5 nm, but most of them was ∼0.1–0.3 nm. Prolongation of discharge time resulted in a higher concentration of the alloy nanoparticles, but did not cause a remarkable change in their size.