Solvothermal synthesis of nickel hydroxide nanosheets and their thermal decomposition to porous nickel oxide

Abstract

Nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)2) nanosheets with a diameter of 400-500 nm and a thickness of 20-30 nm have been synthesized successfully by a template and surfactant-free solvothermal route in a very simple system composed only of H2O, LiOH•H2O and Ni-naphthenate. Furthermore, the as-prepared Ni(OH)2 nanosheets could be easily converted into porous nickel oxide (NiO) by calcining Ni(OH)2 in air at 300˚C-500˚C for 6 h. The magnetic property of the as-prepared porous NiO was studied.