title: An aminolytic approach toward hierarchical β-Ni(OH)(2) nanoporous architectures: a bimodal forum for photocatalytic and surface-enhanced raman scattering activity.
abstract: A surfactantless, trouble-free, and gentle wet chemistry approach has been used to interpret the precisely controlled growth of β-Ni(OH)(2) with the assistance of ammonia and nickel acetate from seedless mild hydrothermal conditions. A thorough investigation of the reaction kinetics and product morphology with varied concentration of NH(3) and different reaction times suggests that a putative mechanism of dissolution, recrystallization, and oriented attachment supports the intelligent self-assembly of nanobuilding blocks. Associated characterizations (FTIR, PXRD, FESEM, EDAX, HRTEM, and Raman) have identified it to be pure β-Ni(OH)(2) without any signature of contamination. The assembled units result in porous frameworks (nanoflowers and nanocolumns) and are indeed full of communally intersecting nanopetals/nanoplates with both lengths and widths on the order of micrometer to nanometer length scale. The as-synthesized material could also be used as a precursor for nanometric black NiO under calcination. The hydroxide has been found to be a potent and environmentally benign material because it warrants its photocatalytic activity through dye mineralization. Finally, Ni(OH)(2) has been photochemically derivatized with dosages of silver nanoparticles bringing a competent composite authority Ag@Ni(OH)(2), to give a full-proof enhanced field effect of prolific SERS activity. In a nutshell, these results are encouraging and fetch new promise for the fabrication of a low-cost and high-yielding greener synthetic protocol for a functional material with promising practicability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur 721302, India.
authors.forename: Sougata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.forename: Mukul
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pradhan
authors.forename: Arun Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.forename: Mrinmoyee
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Negishi
authors.forename: Tarasankar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pal
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000737:chemistry; D000641:Ammonia / Q000737:chemistry; D002384:Catalysis; D006878:Hydroxides / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D009532:Nickel / Q000737:chemistry; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D010777:Photochemistry; D016062:Porosity; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D006878:Hydroxides; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C037473:nickel hydroxide; D012834:Silver; D000641:Ammonia; D009532:Nickel; C119536:nickel acetate