Iron-nickel bimetallic nanoparticles: Surfactant assisted synthesis and their catalytic activities

Abstract

Iron-Nickel core-shell bimetallic nanoparticles was synthesized by seed-growth co-reduction of their corresponding metal precursors (Fe(NO3)3 and Ni(NO3)2) for the first time by using chemical reduction method in absence and presence of shape-controlling cetyltrimethylammonuim bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS). UV–visible spectra revealed that the formation of core-shell NPs strongly depends on the reduction potential of Fe3+ and Ni2+ ions in an aqueous solution. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to determine the surface morphology and elemental composition of the NPs. The Fe-Ni NPs was used as a catalyst to the hydrogen generation from hydrolysis of sodium borohydride under various experimental conditions. The various activation parameters such as Ea = 75.1 kJ mol−1, ΔH# = 69.9 kJ mol−1 and ΔS# = −104.5 JK−1 mol−1 were calculated using Arrhenius and Eyring equations and discussed. Fe/-Ni was also used as an effective adsorbent for the removal of golden yellow MR from dying wastewater. Langmuir adsorption parameters were evaluated by using linear-form of the isotherm. The maximum adsorption capacity (Q0max = 181.1 mg/g) was calculated for Fe25-Ni75.