A template-based electrochemical method for the synthesis of high dense nickel nanotube arrays

High dense Ni nanotube arrays have been successfully fabricated using electrochemical method with the assistance of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template from NiSO4 aqueous solution without any additive. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) results indicate that the pores of AAO template are high uniform and all the pores are filled with Ni nanotubes. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) results demonstrate that the diameter of Ni nanotubes is about 65 nm. The electron diffraction (ED) pattern results show that the Ni nanotubes are polycrystalline. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern shows that the electrodeposited nickel is hexagonal crystal structure.     

Ni纳米管的电化学模板法制备及表征

本文采用一种简单而有效的电化学方法在硫酸铵体系中利用氧化铝模板(AAO)成功制备出规则有序的Ni的管状纳米阵列.使用这种方法可获得外径约为70nm,内径约为50nm的Ni纳米管.对所得的Ni纳米管进行了扫描电镜(SEM)、透射电镜(TEM)、选区电子衍射图(SAED)和X射线衍射(XRD)分析,结果表明:该方法制备的Ni纳米管高度有序,大小均一,其形貌受控于氧化铝模板的结构,外径与模板的孔径相等.     

Single Crystal Fe Nanowire Arrays Encapsulated by SiO2 Nanotubes

Aligned silicon dioxide nanotubes with diameter of 60-70 nm were synthesized inside the nanoholes of an anodic AI membrane (AAM) template by pressure impregnating the AAM pores with the SiO_2 sol. The Si0_2 nanotubes with different wall thickness were produced by repeating the process. Using the second-order template of porous AAM with silicon dioxide nanotubes, it was fabricated the nanostructure of Fe nanowires encapsulated by SiO_2 nanotubes by electrochemical deposition. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) observations show that the nanotubes and nanocables are compact, continuous and uniform. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern shows the Fe nanowire is a single crystal. The magnetic properties of these samples were checked by a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The coercivities of the samples are greatly improved compared to the corresponding bulk materials.     

Preparation of polyaniline nanotubes array based on anodic aluminum oxide template

In this article, the highly ordered polyaniline (PANI) nanotubes array was prepared by in situ polymerization using anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) as template. Polymerization of aniline was confined in the one-dimensional nanochannel of AAO template. The aniline was adsorbed and polymerized preferentially on the pore walls of template. The structure of PANI nanotubes array was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and dynamic force microscope (DFM). The results show that PANI nanotubes are synthesized successfully in the nanopores of template, the diameter and length of PANI nanotubes are closed to the pore diameter and thickness of AAO template, respectively, the arrangement of PANI nanotubes is very regular and uniform, the crystal form of PANI nanotubes is hexagonal, different from pseudo-orthorhombic crystal form of PANI bulk sample, and cell parameters a and b are 0.5008 nm. The change of crystal form is due to the confinement of AAO template, which makes the molecular chain of PANI arrange more ordered.     

Template-free synthesis of nickel nanowires by magnetic field

Nickel nanowires were prepared by a template free method combined with chemical reduction and magnetic field. The application of an external magnetic field resulted in the formation of self-aligned metallic nickel nanowires of about 50 nm in diameter. Nickel particles were prepared in the absence of a magnetic field to better illustrate the structure directing role of the magnetic field. Physical properties of the nickel nanochains were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) methods. This study provides a simple method to prepare Ni nanowires in large scale which broads their practical applications.     

Multilayer super-short carbon nanotube/nickel hydroxide nanoflakes for enhanced supercapacitor properties

Multilayer super-short carbon nanotubes (SSCNTs) could be synthesized by tailoring the raw multiwalled carbon nanotubes with a simple ultrasonic oxidation-cut method. Nanostructured layered nickel hydroxide and SSCNTs have been successfully assembled to form Ni(OH)₂/SSCNTs composite by electrostatic force. Compared with pure Ni(OH)₂ (665 F g^?1), the Ni(OH)₂/SSCNTs composite exhibits the much better electrochemical performance with a specific capacitance of 1887 F g^?1 at 1 A g^?1, and demonstrates a good rate capability and excellent long-term cyclic stability (92 % capacity retention after 3000 cycles). It is the reason that the SSCNTs can form a conductive network onto the surface of Ni(OH)₂ nanoflakes, and their excellent electric conductivity is advantaged to the charge transport on the electrode in discharge process and charge process. Therefore, the greatly enhanced capacitive performance of Ni(OH)₂/SSCNTs can be attributed to a synergetic effect of Ni(OH)₂ and SSCNTs.     

Fabrication, structural characterization and formation mechanism of multiferroic BiFeO3 nanotubes

Multiferroic BiFeO3 (BFO) nanotubes have been successfully fabricated by the modified sol-gel method within the nanochannels of porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. The morphology, structure and composition of the nanotubes were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), selected-area electron diffraction (SAED), high resolution TEM, (HRTEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Postannealed (650 degrees C for 1 h), BFO nanotubes were polycrystalline and X-ray diffraction study revealed that they are of the rhomohedrally distorted perovskite crystal structure. The results of SEM and TEM revealed that BFO nanotubes possessed a uniform length (up to 60 microm) and diameter (about 200 nm), which were controlled by the thickness and the pore diameter of the applied AAO template, respectively and the thickness of the wall of the BFO nanotube was about 15 nm. Y-junctions in the BFO nanotubes were observed. EDX analysis demonstrated that stoichiometric BiFeO3 was formed. HRTEM analysis confirmed that the obtained BFO nanotubes made up of nanoparticles (3-6 nm). The possible formation mechanism of BFO nanotubes was discussed.     

Sonochemical preparation of nickel alumina nanotubes templated by anionic surfactant assemblies

Nickel alumina nanotubes templated by dodecylsulfate assemblies have been successfully synthesized for the first time using a sonochemical process. These nanotubes were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), a transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD). The formation mechanism of these nanotubes is also discussed. They were also calcined to study the change of the nanostructure morphology with the temperature. It was found that the nanotubes transformed from short nanotubes into dendritic structures of aggregations of nanoparticles into monodisperse nanoparticles, and these nanostructures hold high specific surface area.     

A study on the effect of nanosized tin oxide on the electrochemical performance of nanosized nickel hydroxide in alkali solution

The nickel hydroxide nanopowders mixed with SnO₂ nanoparticles as an additive in different proportions were prepared and characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and electrochemical measurement by cyclic voltammetry. XRD examination suggests that the composite Ni(OH)₂/SnO₂ has both the phases of α-Ni(OH)₂ and β-Ni(OH)₂ with SnO₂ nanoparticles. TEM images show the nanostructures of nickel hydroxide, SnO₂ and dispersion of SnO₂ nanoparticles on nickel hydroxide particles in the composite. The electrochemical studies revealed that the composite electrode has better redox reversibility and specific capacitance values compared to the pure Ni(OH)₂, α-Ni(OH)₂ and usual β-Ni(OH)₂ electrodes and it can be applied as a promising positive active material for alkaline rechargeable batteries.     

Preparation and electrochemical performance of nano-scale nickel hydroxide with different shapes

Platelet-like, flake-like, and needle-like nano-scale β-Ni(OH)₂ particles were prepared by coordination homogeneous precipitation method in this paper. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and infrared absorption spectra (IR) were used to characterize the microstructure and morphology of the products. The nano-scale Ni(OH)₂ composite electrodes were prepared by mixing 10 wt.% samples with spherical Ni(OH)₂ to carry out charge-discharge test. The results show that the nano-scale Ni(OH)₂ composite electrodes have higher discharge specific capacity, and the nickel hydroxide nanoneedles show a better adulteration performance than the others.     

A new perspective on carbon nano-onion/nickel hydroxide/oxide composites: Physicochemical properties and application in hybrid electrochemical systems

Carbon nano-onion (CNO) and Ni(OH)₂ or NiO composites were prepared by chemical loading of Ni(OH)₂ on the carbon surface. The samples were characterized by transmission electron microscopic (TEM) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) methods, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique and by differential-thermogravimetric analyses (TGA-DTG). The porosity properties were characterized by using nitrogen gas adsorption analyses. Pristine inorganic samples of NiO and Ni(OH)₂ revealed different morphologies and porous characteristics when compared to those of the CNO composites, which showed unique electrochemical properties. The electrochemical performance of the CNO/Ni(OH)₂ or CNO/NiO composites is largely affected by the mass, the morphology, the crystal phases of the inorganic component and the distribution of the Ni(OH)₂/NiO phase. The CNO composites were used as materials for hybrid charge-storage devices.     

Synthesis of nanosized nickel hydroxide by solid-state reaction at room temperature

The nanosized cathode material Ni(OH)₂ powder for alkaline batteries was synthesized by solid-state reaction at room temperature through NiC₂O₄·2H₂O as precursor, which was also prepared with solid-state reaction from nickel acetate and oxalic acid at ambient temperature. The precursor and the Ni(OH)₂ samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectrometry (IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electrochemical testing. The results revealed that the as-synthesized Ni(OH)₂ sample by this method is β(II)-type phase, and its shape is fibroid with the average particle size of 6–9 nm. Compared with microsized spherical β-Ni(OH)₂, the nanosized β-Ni(OH)₂ exhibits excellent electrochemical performance, such as lower polarization and better charge–discharge properties.     

Nickel oxide nanotubes: synthesis and electrochemical performance for use in lithium ion batteries

Uniform and aligned Nickel Oxide (NiO) nanotube bundles have been synthesized by a template process. Individual nanotubes are 60 microm long with a 200 nm outer diameter and wall thickness of 20-30 nm. The synthesis involved forming Ni(OH)2 nanotubes that were subsequently heated to 350 degrees C in order to fully convert the product to NiO nanotubes. NiO nanotube powder was used in lithium-ion cells for assessment of lithium storage ability and electrochemical performance. Discharge capacity of the NiO nanotube electrode was in excess of 30% higher than that of the standard NiO nanocrystalline powder electrode after 20 cycles. Impedance data suggests the NiO nanotube electrode provides more controlled and sustainable Li diffusion when compared to the NiO reference powder electrode system.     

Thermogravimetric studies on nickel hydoxide electrode

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) has been used as a quick and accurate method for determining the content of Ni(OH)₂ for nickel hydroxide electrodes (NOE) prepared by the chemical precipitation of nickel hydroxide on sintered nickel plaque. The analysis can be carried out in a reducing atmosphere (Ar+4%H₂) or in air, and, while the final products differ, results for the two methods should be mutually consistant. The chemical reactions expected (in air vs. in hydrogen) are shown below:

From the weight loss of this reaction the loading of Ni(OH)₂ can be determined since the weight loss from the decomposition of pure Ni(OH)₂ is 19.4%.

Again the Ni(OH)₂ loading can be calculated since the theoretical weight loss for the above reaction (i) is 36.7% (for pure Ni(OH)₂).Portions of a commercial NOE were cut and used for the TGA experiments in air and in hydrogen atmospheres. These TGA experiments gave consistent results for the nickel hydroxide concentration of our NOE. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies indicated the active material was crystalline nickel hydroxide. After TGA in air to 500°C, XRD showed only NiO (plus the Ni from the plaque), while after TGA in H₂ to 500°C XRD showed only Ni peaks. In addition to these two chemical reactions, a weight loss of 1–3% was observed between 80–180°C corresponding to the loss of adsorbed H₂O. The molar ratio of adsorbed water to the calculated Ni(OH)₂ loading was about 0.1M H₂O per mole of Ni(OH)₂. This water was adsorbed and not structural based on the X-ray results discussed in this paper.     

Structural and magnetic characterization of batch-fabricated nickel encapsulated multi-walled carbon nanotubes

We report on the growth and fabrication of Ni-filled multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Ni-MWNTs) with an average diameter of 115 nm and variable length of 400 nm-1 μm. The Ni-MWNTs were grown using template-assisted electrodeposition and low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) techniques. Anodized alumina oxide (AAO) templates were fabricated on Si using a current controlled process. This was followed by the electrodeposition of Ni nanowires (NWs) using galvanostatic pulsed current (PC) electrodeposition. Ni NWs served as the catalyst to grow Ni-MWNTs in an atmosphere of H2/C2H2 at a temperature of 700?°C. Time dependent depositions were carried out to understand the diffusion and growth mechanism of Ni-MWNTs. Characterization was carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), focused ion beam (FIB) milling, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX). TEM analysis revealed that the Ni nanowires possess a fcc structure. To understand the effects of the electrodeposition parameters, and also the effects of the high temperatures encountered during MWNT growth on the magnetic properties of the Ni-MWNTs, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements were performed. The template-based fabrication method is repeatable, efficient, enables batch fabrication and provides good control on the dimensions of the Ni-MWNTs.     

磁性金属纳米结构的制备与表征

采用电化学沉积方法成功地制备了高度有序的镍纳米管/线阵列结构,并用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)和X射线衍射(XRD)对产物的微观形貌和化学结构进行了表征和分析.测试结果显示,镍纳米结构阵列规整,镍纳米管壁具有多晶体结构;X射线衍射图谱表明,镍纳米管壁具有较高的结晶度.研究了沉积时间对镍纳米结构的影响.     

Photodegradation of organic dyes over nickel distributed CNT/TiO2 composite synthesized by a simple sol-gel method

In this study, the multi-walled carbon nanotubes were oxidized by m-chlorperbenzoic acid followed by the reaction with titanium n-butoxide and nickel nitrate to prepare Ni distributed CNT/TiO₂ composite by a simple sol-gel method. The functional groups formed on the surface of MWCNTs were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The prepared Ni distributed CNT/TiO₂ composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The photodegradation of methylene blue, methylene orange and rhodamine B solution under UV irradiation was employed to test the photocatalytic activity of the Ni distributed CNT/TiO₂ composite. According to the results, Ni distributed CNT/TiO₂ composite showed very excellent photocatalytic activity to decompose MB, MO and Rh.B solutions, due to the electron absorption effect of MWCNTs and electron trapping effect of nickel.     

Controlled growth-reversal of catalytic carbon nanotubes under electron-beam irradiation

The growth of carbon nanotubes from Ni catalysts is reversed and observed in real time in a transmission electron microscope, at room temperature. The Ni catalyst is found to be Ni3C and remains attached to the nanotube throughout the irradiation sequence, indicating that C most likely diffuses on the surface of the catalyst to form nanotubes. We calculate the energy barrier for saturating the Ni3C (2-13) surface with C to be 0.14 eV, thus providing a low-energy surface for the formation of graphene planes.     

Low temperature synthesis and optical property of ZnS nanotubes

Zinc sulphide (ZnS) nanotubes were synthesised via simple surfactant emulsion template under hydrothermal conditions. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscope were used to characterise the nanotubes. The results indicate that the nanotubes are composed of nanoparticles. The diameters of the nanotubes vary from 300 to 700?nm and lengths range from 1 to 2?µm. In addition, it is found that the reaction time, reaction temperature and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide play key roles in the phase and morphology control of ZnS nanotubes. Furthermore, room temperature photoluminescence was recorded to investigate the optical property of the obtained product. The stable and strong green emission band centred at 513?nm was attributed to some self-activated centres, probably vacancy states or interstitial states related to the peculiar structure.     

Novel fabrication of silica nanotubes using multi-walled carbon nanotubes as template

Silica nanotubes were synthesized using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as template. The as-obtained samples were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and photoluminescent (PL) spectroscopy. The results indicate that the thickness of the outer walls is about 10 nm and the inner diameter is completely dependent on the size of MWCNTs. The as-fabricated silica nanotubes emit a strong violet light under excitation of 250 nm.