Synthesis of NiO nano crystals through nitrate eutectic melt

Abstract

Nanostructured materials are of considerable interest in both fundamental as well as applied research areas due to their unique physical and chemical properties and also promising applications in nanodevices. In recent years, variety of nanomaterials have been prepared by using different methods. Molten nitrates and particularly nitrate eutectic melts, because of low melting temperatures, are frequently used as nonaqueous solvents for studying a number of chemical reactions and preparation of materials. Nano size nickel oxide (about 15 nm) has been prepared by the reaction of nickel sulphate in NaNO₃- KNO₃ eutectic melt. The specific reaction conditions for the preparation of nano size NiO have been specified using TG and DTA techniques. NiO produced has been characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) techniques. Probable reaction mechanism for the reaction has also been proposed.