Synthesis of nickel metal nanoparticles via a chemical reduction of nickel ammine and alkylamine complexes by hydrazine

Nickel nanoparticles were prepared from their coordination compounds, such as Ni(NH₃)₆]Cl₂, Ni(N₂H₄)₂Cl₂], Ni(HNEt₂)₆]Cl₂, and Ni(H₂NBu)₆]Cl₂ in aqueous solution by chemical reduction. The reaction of nickel ammine and alkylamine complexes with hydrazine monohydrate as a reducing agent was carried out at 90 °C and pH = 10–12. Depending on the influencing parameters such as oxidizing agent, pH, and temperature, the hydrazine reaction can be carried out in different pathways. The chemical reduction method is a simple procedure and also is the best one in the controlling of composition, size, and shape of Ni powder. The reduction of nickel complexes into the metallic Ni powder occurs via the dissociation of complexes and reduction by hydrazine in alkaline solution. Therefore, complexing agents have the most effect on the reduction reaction. The results show that, when the ligands in complexes were changed from ammine to diethylamine and butylamine, respectively, the crystalline size and morphology of nickel metal nanoparticles are changed. The chemical reduction of nickel complexes into metallic nickel can be accompanied with a change in the crystalline system. The pure nickel crystalline has a face-centered cubic structure. The nickel nanoparticles were characterized using IR spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer analyses.