Hierarchical α-Ni(OH)₂ Composed of Ultrathin Nanosheets with Controlled Interlayer Distances and Their Enhanced Catalytic Performance

Hierarchical α-Ni(OH) 2 assembled of ultrathin nanosheets with the intercalation of diatomic alcohol molecules were synthesized via a facile one-step solvothermal process. The assembly structure avoided the agglomeration of ultrathin nanosheets while retaining their atomic-scale thickness and high surface area. The intercalation of the diatomic alcohol molecules into the transition-metal layers provided larger interlayer spacing and more exposed active sites, which guaranteed the high activity of the α-Ni(OH) 2 . The as-obtained hierarchical α-Ni(OH) 2 exhibited excellent catalytic performance in the reduction of p -nitrophenol, with a maximum reaction rate constant ( k ) of 6.23 × 10 –3 s –1 and a super high activity factor K ( K = k /m) of 216.69 s –1 g –1 . The layer spacing played the most important role in the reaction, and the catalytic efficiency increased greatly with the increase of the layer spacing of the α-Ni(OH) 2 . This design concept and synthetic method can also be extended to the production of a wide variety of hierarchical catalysts for other reactions.