Formation procedure and microstructural analysis of Pb₇Bi ₂ (Pb-Bi) alloy nanowires

Pb₇B₂ nanowires with a diameter of 80 nm have been fabricated by a centrifugal process, in which the Pb-Bi alloy nanowires formed as the melt was forced into the pores of an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template. The nanowires inside the pores of the anodic alumina template could be separated from the remaining metal by a quenching process. X-ray diffraction analysis and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were carried out to determine the composition of the lead-bismuth alloy nanowires. Selected-area electron diffraction and high-resolution electron microscopy investigations indicate that the Pb-Bi alloy nanowire is a single crystal without dislocations and has a hexagonal structure.