CHARACTERIZATION OF NICKEL OXIDE NANOPARTICLES SYNTHESIZED VIA RAPID MICROWAVE-ASSISTED ROUTE

Abstract

Nickel oxide ( NiO ) nano-particles were produced via a rapid microwave-assisted method. Ni ( OH )2 precursor was obtained by slow drop-wise addition of 0.1M sodium hydroxide to 0.1M nickel nitrate. The mixture was vigorously stirred until the pH reached 7.2. The mixture was then irradiated with microwave to deposit Ni ( OH )2 at an intensified precipitation rate. Drying of the precipitate at 320°C resulted in formation of NiO nano-powder. Mean dimension of this powder was ~30nm according to the images analyzed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns revealed well-crystallized/high-purity nanostructures of the synthesized powder. Microwave utilization increased homogeneity and decreased the mean particle size of the produced NiO powder.