Analysis of Nickel Nanoclusters Size Distribution Synthesized from the Gas Phase

The process of Ni nanoclusters synthesis from the gas phase had been studied by the moleculardynamics method based on tight-binding potentials. The gas phase was produced after evaporation of melted nickel using high energy electron beam. Experimental procedure originated the nanoparticles of two fractions with average size 100 and 200 nanometers. Computer analysis of system evolution shows the splitting can occur due to consolidation of large enough primary clusters. The simulation shows two stages of system evolution. At the first stage the consolidation occurs for clusters belonging to the range of the largest values of size distribution in accordance with theory predictions. At the second stage the largest probability corresponds to consolidation of biggest particles. Finally it leads to bimodal size distribution which is not observed at usual theoretical analysis of condensation process.