Simple Hydrothermal Synthesis of Nickel Hydroxide Flower-Like Nanostructures

Abstract

α-Ni(OH)2 flower-like nanostructures were successfully synthesized through one-step hydrothermal method with nickel acetate tetrahydrate, ethylene-1,2-diamine (en), hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as morphology-directing agents. Optimum conditions to obtain high yield and pure phase α-Ni(OH)2 were identified by varying experimental parameters such as: en, HMT and CTAB concentration and reaction temperature. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared and thermogravimetric analysis. These results indicated that the α-nickel hydroxide contains water molecules and anions. The hierarchical NiO nanostructures were obtained by the as-synthesized α-Ni(OH)2 nanostructures annealed at 300 °C for 4 h.