title: Synthesis, alignment, and magnetic properties of monodisperse nickel nanocubes.
abstract: This Communication describes the synthesis of highly monodispersed 12 nm nickel nanocubes. The cubic shape was achieved by using trioctylphosphine and hexadecylamine surfactants under a reducing hydrogen atmosphere to favor thermodynamic growth and the stabilization of {100} facets. Varying the metal precursor to trioctylphosphine ratio was found to alter the nanoparticle size and shape from 5 nm spherical nanoparticles to 12 nm nanocubes. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy showed that the nanocubes are protected from further oxidation by a 1 nm NiO shell. Synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction techniques showed the nickel nanocubes order into [100] aligned arrays. Magnetic studies showed the nickel nanocubes have over 4 times enhancement in magnetic saturation compared to spherical superparamagnetic nickel nanoparticles.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical and Physical Sciences and the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Alec P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: LaGrow
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ingham
authors.forename: Soshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: Grant V M
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dotzler
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Toney
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Jefferson
authors.forename: Elena C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Corbos
authors.forename: Peter T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cookson
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Tilley
mesh_terms: D060328:Magnetic Phenomena; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D009532:Nickel / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D009532:Nickel