Synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical properties of ultrafine β-Ni(OH) 2 nanoparticles

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 36; no. 14; pp. 8674 - 8679
• Main Authors: Aghazadeh, Mustafa, Golikand, Ahmad Nozad, Ghaemi, Mehdi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alternative fuels. Production and utilization; Applied sciences; Cathodic electrodeposition; Electrochemical properties; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Hydrogen; Nanoparticles; β -Ni(OH) 2; Nanoparticles; Electrochemical properties; β -Ni(OH) 2; Cathodic electrodeposition; Differential scanning calorimetry; Scanning electron microscopy; Particle size; Cathode; Hydrogen; Nanoparticle; Discharge charge cycle; Electrochemical characteristic; Characterization; Cyclic voltammetry; Nickel hydroxide; Transmission electron microscopy; Stainless steel; Electrodeposition; Nickel; β-Ni(OH); X ray diffractometry; Current density; Low temperature
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.03.144

Nickel hydroxide was deposited via cathodic electrodeposition from low-temperature 0.005 M NiCl 2 bath without using any surfactant or template. The cathodic current density was 1 mA cm −2 and stainless steel was used as the cathode. The XRD pattern confirmed that the prepared sample has a pure brucite crystal phase of β-Ni(OH) 2 and the broadening of diffraction peaks showed that the particles size of the prepared β-Ni(OH) 2 is extremely small. Thermal behavior and composition of the prepared β-Ni(OH) 2 were investigated by DSC-TG and FT-IR analyses. Morphological characterization by SEM and TEM revealed that β-Ni(OH) 2 is composed of well dispersed ultrafine particles with size of about 5 nm. The electrochemical properties of the prepared nanoparticles were studied by means of cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge–discharge tests in 1 M KOH. The prepared β-Ni(OH) 2 nanoparticles showed excellent capacitance behavior of 740 F g −1 in the potential window of 0–0.55 V vs. Ag/AgCl. These results make the β-Ni(OH) 2 nanoparticles as a promising candidate for the supercapacitor electrodes.