Preparation and Characterization of Nickel Nanoparticles and Nanowires in Aqueous Solution Under Wet Chemical Process

Nickel nanoparticles and nanowires were prepared by controlled reduction of different precursor salts with sodium borohydride (NaBH4). Different aqueous solution – nickel sulfate, nickel chloride, nickel nitrate and nickel bromide have been used. Silica and two mesoporous ceramic materials (Si-MCM and Al-MCM) were used as a host material. The specific surface area (SSA) of the supports and of the produced materials was estimated by BET technique. The morphology, structure and phase composition of the produced materials were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction method (XRD). The content of boron and nickel were analyzed too. It was established that the anion content of the precursors determines the formation of isotropic or anisotropic by shape nanoscaled materials. The mesoporous ceramic support affects the mechanism of nucleation too. Support surface wetting is also of a special importance