Abstract
A new chemical method was used to obtain a high yield of nickel nanoparticles (Ni-NPs). The effect of solvent (distilled water, ethylene glycol, and ethanol) and surfactant (oleic acid and polyvinyl pyrrolidinone) on the morphology and crystallinity of the synthesized Ni-NPs has been investigated. The experimental results revealed that among the solvents mentioned above, ethanol gives the best results in terms of complete reduction, controlled morphology and size distribution of Ni-NPs. The surfactants played an important role in impeding the agglomeration and surface oxidation of Ni-NPs. The surfactants also affected the morphology of the Ni-NPs. The synthesized Ni-NPs are found to be quite stable in air. The best of the synthesized Ni-NPs were effectively used as catalysts for the synthesis of Ni/NiO-multi-layered graphene using catalytic chemical vapor deposition technique.
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•A new chemical synthesis method to obtain a high yield of nickel nanoparticles (Ni-NPs).•The morphology and crystallinity of the synthesized Ni-NPs depended on solvent and surfactant.•Ethanol was found to be the best solvent in terms of complete reduction of the precursor.•Surfactants impeded the agglomeration and surface oxidation of Ni-NPs.•Ni-NPs were used as catalysts to synthesize of Ni/NiO-multi-layer graphene using CVD.