Ni - Al bimetallic nanoparticle structures are studied from a kinetic point of view. The diffusion and growth of Ni (or Al) atoms on Al (or Ni) cores with the Wulff structure are simulated by molecular dynamics and nudged elastic band methods. An analytic embedded atom model is applied to the two metals. The energy barriers of several typical diffusion processes of the adatoms on the nanoparticle surface are calculated. Results show that the incorporation of the Ni atoms into the Al core easily occurs, and the reverse process does not readily proceed. The growth simulations reveal that a better core-shell nanoparticle is obtained when the Al atoms are deposited on the Ni core at lower temperatures, and the deposition of the Ni atoms on the Al core leads to an amorphous surface. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.