Synthesizing and deposition of nickel oxide nanoparticles on glass mat using sol–gel method (morphological and magnetic properties)

Abstract

This research aimed to study the structure and magnetic properties of nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO) synthesized with various precursors in acidic and basic media deposited on glass mat. These nanoparticles were synthesized by sol–gel method using two different precursors such as nickel nitrate hexahydrate and nickel chloride hexahydrate at optimal temperature with the same concentrations. Deposition on glass mat was done during the synthesis process. According to X-ray diffraction pattern of synthesized nickel oxide nanopowders, it can be seen that the structure of samples is simple cubic with high crystallinity whose sizes were calculated applying Debye–Scherrer equation and it has shown that Nickel nitrate hexahydrate sample in basic medium has the smallest crystallite size (23 nm). The results of energy dispersive X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the amount of nickel elements in the nickel nitrate hexahydrate sample in basic medium was more than that in other samples. Scanning electron microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy used for morphological study of nickel oxide nanoparticles indicated that NiO nanoparticles were spherical in shape and the sizes of nanoparticles ranged from 52 to 54 nm. Additionally, the images showed that the nanoparticles in each sample arranged in a specific pattern on glass mat fibers. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used for the investigation of the chemical structure of the fabrics. Vibrating-sample magnetometer analysis has revealed that the obtained samples had ferromagnetic properties and only nickel nitrate sample in acidic medium reached saturation. Also, it can be seen that the magnetic properties of powder form of these nanoparticles are more powerful as compare with produced magnetic glass mat.