Issue 27, 2016

Shape-controlled synthesis and performance comparison of Ni2P nanostructures

Abstract

In this paper, a facile precursor phosphidation route was designed for morphology controlled synthesis of Ni2P nanostructures, employing NiCl2 and NaH2PO2 as the initial reactants in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and hexamethylenetetramine (HMT). Experiments showed that under the same hydrothermal conditions, NiHPO3·H2O nanorods and Ni nanospheres were separately obtained via only changing the original amount of HMT. The as-obtained NiHPO3·H2O nanorods and Ni nanospheres could be used as the precursors in low-temperature phosphidation reactions under a N2 atmosphere. Under the same phosphidation conditions, Ni2P nanorods and nanospheres were formed, respectively. The precursor and the final products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The electrochemical performance and the catalytic properties of the Ni2P nanorods and nanospheres were investigated. It was found that the as-obtained Ni2P nanostructures displayed marked shape-dependent properties: the Ni2P nanorods presented better electrochemical performance, such as higher specific capacitance and more stable cycle features, and stronger catalytic activity for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) in an excess NaBH4 solution than the Ni2P nanospheres.

Graphical abstract: Shape-controlled synthesis and performance comparison of Ni2P nanostructures

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
16 Feb 2016
Accepted
19 May 2016
First published
19 May 2016

CrystEngComm, 2016,18, 5155-5163

Shape-controlled synthesis and performance comparison of Ni2P nanostructures

H. Wu, Y. Ni, M. Wang and D. Lu, CrystEngComm, 2016, 18, 5155 DOI: 10.1039/C6CE00386A

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