Advances in nickel nanoparticle synthesis via oleylamine route

Abstract

Nickel nanoparticles are an active research area due to their multiple applications as catalysts in different processes. A variety of preparation techniques have been reported for the synthesis of these nanoparticles, including solvothermal, microwave-assisted, and emulsion techniques. The well-studied solvothermal oleylamine synthesis route comes with the drawback of needing standard air-free techniques and often space-consuming glassware. Here, we present a facile and straightforward synthesis method for size-controlled highly monodisperse nickel nanoparticles avoiding the use of, e.g., Schlenk techniques and space-consuming labware. The nanoparticles produced by this novel synthetic route were investigated using small-angle X-ray scattering, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray spectroscopy. The nanoparticles were in a size range of 4?16 nm, show high sphericity, no oxidation, and no agglomeration after synthesis.