Chemical synthesis and characterization of hcp Ni nanoparticles

V Tzitzios et al. 2006 Nanotechnology 17 3750-3755 doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/17/15/023

V Tzitzios, G Basina, M Gjoka, V Alexandrakis, V Georgakilas, D Niarchos, N Boukos and D Petridis
Institute of Materials Science, NCSR 'Demokritos', Agia Paraskevi 15310 Athens, Greece
E-mail: tzitzios@ims.demokritos.gr and dpetrid@ims.demokritos.gr

Abstract. Hexagonal close-packed (hcp) Ni particles were prepared in the nanosize range (13–25 nm) by reduction of Ni(NO₃)₂ in polyethylene glycol (PEG) with various molecular weights. The reaction occurred in the presence of an equimolecular mixture of oleic acid and oleyl amine, which plays the role of a stabilizer and gives solubility to the nanoparticles in non-polar solvents. The crystal structure of Ni particles seems to be controlled by the molecular weight of the PEG molecule and subsequently the reaction temperature. The magnetic properties of the hcp Ni nanoparticles are also studied.

Print publication: Issue 15 (14 August 2006)
Received 1 February 2006, in final form 25 May 2006
Published 3 July 2006