Preparation of nanocrystalline nickel powders through hydrothermal-reduction method

Nanocrystalline nickel powders were prepared in aqueous solution through a thermal-reduction process. The reductive atmosphere was produced from the d isproportionation of white phosphorus in basic solution at 100 degrees C. X -ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and chemica l analysis were employed to characterize the products. XRD revealed that th e nickel was single phase. TEM showed that the average particle size was ab out 26 nm. The purity of the as-prepared nickel was 99.6%, as determined fr om the spectrophotoscopy. The possible formation mechanism of nanocrystalli ne nickel is a reduction of nanocrystalline Ni(OH)(2). (C) 1999 Elsevier Sc ience Ltd.