Ethanol assisted reduction and nucleation of ferromagnetic Co and Ni nanocrystalline particles

Abstract

In this report, we demonstrate the ability of ethanol to act as a solvent and reducing agent to nucleate nanocrystalline Co and Ni particles. Under solvothermal conditions, Co and Ni particles can be produced at 200 °C. The Ni and Co particles crystallized into FCC and a mixture of FCC and HCP crystal phases, respectively. Ni particles possessed a spherical morphology with diameters in the range of 200 nm to 300 nm. Co particles took on an ellipsoidal morphology, with diameters greater than 500 nm. Magnetizations for the Ni and Co particles were commensurate with bulk values, showing their high crystallinity and the presence of little oxide impurity. By finding inexpensive solvents with a lowered environmental impact, steps towards a “greener” synthetic process for ferromagnetic nanoparticles can be established.