Synthesis and Characterization of Nickel Based Nanoparticles (Ni(OH)2, Nio, Ni)

In the present work, we have developed a simple and cost-effective solvothermal method for the preparation of Ni(OH)2, NiO and Ni nanoparticles. First Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles was synthesized via solvothermal process. Later the as-synthesized Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles was used as a precursor to prepare NiO and Ni nanoparticles by calcination at elevated temperatures. The obtained nanostructures were characterized by Xray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to evaluate their crystallinity, morphology, size and composition. Synthesis conditions were altered in a controlled manner to understand the role of various factors especially the duration and temperature of the calcination on the final products. The results proved that the synthesis condition would be possible to tailor to reach different Nickel based nanoparticles. The synthesized NPs were used for the first time for dye decomposition using methylene blue (MB) as a model pollutant at pH=7 and room temperature in presence of UV light. Sonophotocatalytic tests proved that NiO NPs had higher performance in dye degradation. In addition, since no toxic chemicals were used during the synthesis process, the results of this study can potentially be of both academic and industrial importance in the developing of facile synthetic process toward the preparation of other nanomaterials.