Effect of PEG6000 on the morphology the β-Ni(OH)2 nanostructures: solvothermal synthesis, characterization, and formation mechanism

Abstract

Beta nickel hydroxide, β-Ni(OH)2, nanostructures with particle and powder-like morphologies have been prepared by the decomposition of a nickel complex [Ni(phen)2]+2 in the presence of a template (PEG6000) and alkali under solvothermal conditions. Optimum conditions to obtain high yield and phase pure β-Ni(OH)2 were identified by varying experimental parameters, such as the reaction time and the reaction temperature. X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the products. A possible growth mechanism was proposed based on experimental results. The average particle size for the 8 samples is between 24 and 38 nm.