Polymer guided synthesis of Ni(OH)2 with hierarchical structure and their application as the precursor for sensing materials.

Hierarchical Ni(OH)2 microstructures with sizes of several micrometers have been synthesized through a polymer mediated self-assembly route. The hierarchical Ni(OH)2 microstructures are built of sheet-like building blocks, which are further composed of “side to side” stacking of tiny sheet-like units. The influence of various experimental parameters on the microstructure was investigated. It is believed that the polymer, poly(sodium-4-styrene sulfonate), selectively bonded on the surface of Ni(OH)2 clusters mediates the formation of hierarchical Ni(OH)2 microstructures. In addition, through the chemical conversion of Ni(OH)2 to NiO, an oxide sensor was fabricated, which exhibits excellent gas sensing performances to ethanol and propanol, suggesting the potential applications. It is also anticipated that these Ni(OH)2 microstructures will have successful applications in Ni-based batteries, electrodes, and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]