Synthesis and characterization of Ni(OH)2 nanopowders and NiO:8YSZ composites

Abstract

In the current work nickel hydroxide powder was synthesized through the precipitation method by using 0.5 molar sodium hydroxide solution, 1 molar nickel chloride hexahydrate solution and hydrazine hydrate solution. Three different powders were prepared by varying the amount of hydrazine hydrate solution (5 ml, 10 ml and 20 ml). XRD analysis of the as synthesis powders shows that on increasing the amount of hydrazine hydrate solution the powder becomes more crystalline and to get the amorphous nickel hydroxide synthesis requires small amount of hydrazine solution. Amorphous nickel hydroxide has smaller particle size and higher surface area of 132.87 m2/g. Morphology of as-synthesised powders indicated that the lower amount of hydrazine results in particle size of nanometre range. The DSC-TG curve shows that there is maximum percentage of mass loss at around 3000C which is due to conversion of nickel hydroxide into nickel oxide. The calcined powders of Ni(OH)2 and 8 wt.% YSZ was used for preparing NiO: 8YSZ composites. Microstructure and EDS mapping was performed to understand the NiO distribution in 8YSZ matrix.