Synthesis of nickel nanoparticles by hydrazine reduction: mechanistic study and continuous flow synthesis.

The continuous synthesis of nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs) in a static microchannel T-mixer by the reduction of NiCl·6HO in the presence of ethylene glycol without a stabilizing/capping agent was investigated. The nanoparticles were formed in accordance with the modified polyol process with hydrazine used as a reducing agent and NaOH as a catalyst for nanoparticle formation. The reaction mechanism for NiNP formation was investigated in batch with the help of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Parameters were found for reducing reaction times from 60 to 1 min. The effects of temperature (60-120 °C) and NaOH concentration (0.1 and 0.5 M) on batch-processed particle characteristics were also studied using XRD, transmission electron microscope and electron microprobe analysis. Average particle size was reduced from 9.2 ± 2.9 to 5.4 ± 0.9 nm at higher temperature and NaOH concentration. Adaptation of this chemistry to a static microchannel T-mixer for continuous synthesis resulted in smooth, spherical particles. Increases in the reaction temperature from 120 to 130 °C resulted in a narrow size distribution of 5.3 ± 1 nm and also resulted in magnetic properties of 5.1 emu/g (saturation magnetization), 1.1 emu/g (remanent magnetization), and 62 Oe (coercivity). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]