NI-SILICA AND CU-SILICA NANOCOMPOSITES PREPARED BY BALL-MILLING

Nickel-silica nanocomposites with different metal volume fractions hav e been prepared via solid state exchange reactions which were induced by ball milling nickel oxide and silicon powders and by direct milling mixtures of nickel and amorphous silica, A copper-silica nanocomposit e has also been prepared by a solid state exchange reaction. The evolu tion of the systems during the preparation process has been monitored by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, Electrical properties of the final samples are examined as a function of composit ion and preparation method. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.