Disclosed are: a method capable of preparing, in large-scaled quantity, nonspherical/asymmetric fine particles in which the physical factors (for example, size, shape, structure, etc.) of a fine wire (for example, glass-coated metal microwires) are controlled, through a convergence of nano technology (NT) and laser machining technology; and a use thereof applicable to various fields including bioassay and security.

A core material including a core and a solder plating layer of a (SnBi)-based solder alloy made of Sn and Bi on a surface of the core. Bi in the solder plating layer is distributed in the solder plating layer at a concentration ratio in a predetermined range of, for example, 91.7% to 106.7%. Bi in the solder plating layer is homogeneous, and thus, a Bi concentration ratio is in a predetermined range over the entire solder plating layer including an inner circumference side and an outer circumference side in the solder plating layer.

The material properties of structures made with conductive nanoparticles are enhanced by radiation sintering followed by chemical sintering. The conductive nanoparticles may be applied to substrates by methods such as screen printing, inkjet, aerosol and electrospinning and then sintering the conductive nanoparticles on the substrates.

A method of making a supported catalytic species comprising an alloy of at least two metals, comprises the steps of: (i) combining a particulate support material, a solution of a first metal compound, a solution of a second metal compound, and a solution of an alkaline precipitating agent to form a slurry mixture; (ii) agitating the resultant mixture; and (iii) contacting the solids with a reducing agent, wherein the first metal in the first metal compound and the second metal in the second metal compound is each independently selected from the group consisting of gold, palladium, platinum, rhodium, iridium, silver, osmium and ruthenium; and wherein the first metal is not the same as the second metal.

A method of making a supported catalytic species comprising an alloy of at least two metals, comprises the steps of: (i) combining a particulate support material, a solution of a first metal compound, a solution of a second metal compound, and a solution of an alkaline precipitating agent to form a slurry mixture; (ii) agitating the resultant mixture; and (iii) contacting the solids with a reducing agent, wherein the first metal in the first metal compound and the second metal in the second metal compound is each independently selected from the group consisting of gold, palladium, platinum, rhodium, iridium, silver, osmium and ruthenium; and wherein the first metal is not the same as the second metal.

A method for making catalysts of noble metal nanoparticles or alloy nanoparticles or both having shaped morphology, the method including the steps of: pretreating a support material; impregnating metal precursors onto the support material; and then reducing the impregnated metal precursors into shaped metal nanoparticles or shaped alloy nanoparticles or both using a functional gas atmosphere.

A method of producing a composite nanoparticle (M-A.sub.xO.sub.y), having: generating, in an inert gas, an alloy (A-M) nanoparticle, which contains 0.1 at. % to 30 at. % of a noble metal (M), with the balance being a base metal (A) and inevitable impurities, and which has a particle size of 1 nm to 100 nm, to heat the alloy (A-M) nanoparticle and to bring the alloy (A-M) nanoparticle into contact with a supplied oxidizing gas during transportation of the alloy (A-M) nanoparticle with the inert gas, to oxidize the base metal component (A) in the floating alloy (A-M) nanoparticle, and to phase separate into the thus-oxidized base metal component (A.sub.xO.sub.y) and the noble metal component (M), to thereby obtain a composite nanoparticle (M-A.sub.xO.sub.y) having one noble metal particle (M) combined to the surface of a particulate base metal oxide (A.sub.xO.sub.y).

A method of producing a composite nanoparticle (M-A.sub.xO.sub.y), having: generating, in an inert gas, an alloy (A-M) nanoparticle, which contains 0.1 at. % to 30 at. % of a noble metal (M), with the balance being a base metal (A) and inevitable impurities, and which has a particle size of 1 nm to 100 nm, to heat the alloy (A-M) nanoparticle and to bring the alloy (A-M) nanoparticle into contact with a supplied oxidizing gas during transportation of the alloy (A-M) nanoparticle with the inert gas, to oxidize the base metal component (A) in the floating alloy (A-M) nanoparticle, and to phase separate into the thus-oxidized base metal component (A.sub.xO.sub.y) and the noble metal component (M), to thereby obtain a composite nanoparticle (M-A.sub.xO.sub.y) having one noble metal particle (M) combined to the surface of a particulate base metal oxide (A.sub.xO.sub.y).

An alloy composed of three or more types of elements, wherein all the standard deviation of distribution in the alloy of each element constituting the alloy are 15 atomic % or less provides a novel alloy composed of three or more types of elements and having a high solid solution uniformity.

An alloy composed of three or more types of elements, wherein all the standard deviation of distribution in the alloy of each element constituting the alloy are 15 atomic % or less provides a novel alloy composed of three or more types of elements and having a high solid solution uniformity.