Nanoscale synthesis and optical features of metallic nickel nanoparticles by wet chemical approaches

Abstract: Nickel nanoparticles (Ni-NPs) were successfully synthesized and attached on indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate by two different methods: from solution reduction process by using sodium borohydride (NaBH4) as reducing agent in the presence of poly(N-vinilpyrrolidone) (PVP) as protective and stabilizing agents and by polyol process under ethylene glycol EG as a solvent. The results indicated that the samples prepared in aqueous solution show the occurrence of face-centered cubic metallic nickel nanoparticles with a medium diameter of ∼31nm and good size dispersion compared to the preparation in EG that revealed large size ∼150nm. The dynamics of the nanoparticle''s growth in the solvents and comparison with optical absorption is presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]