Synthesis of coral-like and spherical nickel nanoparticles using Taguchi L 8 experimental design

Abstract

In this article, spherical nanoparticles with narrow diameter range (4–10·7 nm) and coral-like nickel architectures have been synthesised in a laboratory scale in a mixture of 1∶1 (v/v) ethylene glycol and water of pH 10–11·5 using microwave as heating source. The reducing agent used was hydrazine hydrate. Samples have been tested by X-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM, laser light scattering, thermogravimetry–differential thermogravimetry, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The fineness of spherical nickel particles was optimised using the Taguchi L₈ experimental design. The reaction mechanism was also discussed.