Synthesis and characterization of NiO nanoclusters via thermal decomposition

Thermal decomposition process has been developed to synthesize nickel oxide (NiO) nanoclusters via the reaction between a new precursor, nickel oxalate Ni(O₄C₂)(H₂O)₄] and oleylamine (C₁₈H₃₇N). The combination of triphenylphosphine (C₁₈H₁₅P) and C₁₈H₃₇N were added as surfactants to control the particle size. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy. The synthesized NiO nanoclusters have a cubic structure with average size 2–10 nm.