One-dimensional Ni nanostructures were synthesized via a hydrazine reduction route under external magnetic fields. The mixture of de-ionized water and ethanol was used as the reaction solvent and hydrazine hydrate as reducing agents. The morphology and properties of Ni nanostructures were characterized by X-ray diffractometer(XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), and vibrating sample magnetometer(VSM). It was found that the magnetic field strength, concentration of Ni ions,reaction time and temperature as well as p H values played key roles on formation, microstructures and magnetic properties of Ni nanowires. The optimal wires have diameter of ~200 nm and length up to ~200 μm. And their coercivity is ~260 Oe, which is much larger than the commercial Ni powders of 31 Oe. This work presents a simple, low-cost, environment-friendly and large-scale production approach to fabricate one-dimensional magnetic materials. The resulting materials may have potential applications in conductive filters, magnetic sensors and catalytic agents.
Nickel nanowires with large aspect ratio of up to 300 have been prepared by a hydrazine hydrate reduction method under applied magnetic field. The diameter of nickel nanowires is about 200 nm and length up to 60 μm. The role of magnetic field on the growth of magnetic nanowires is discussed and a magnetic nanowire growth mechanism has been proposed. Nickel ions are firstly reduced to nickel atoms by hydrazine hydrates in a strong alkaline solution and grow into tiny spherical nanoparticles. Then, these magnetic particles will align under a magnetic force and form linear chains. Furthermore, the as-formed chains can enhance the local magnetic field and attract other magnetic particles nearby, resulting finally as linear nanowires. The formation and the size of nanowires depend strongly on the magnitude of applied magnetic field.
Tree-shaped nickel nanocrystals with long main trunk and highly ordered branches were prepared via electrolytic method in ethylene glycol solution. The morphology and structures of nanotrees of crystalline nickel can be controlled by the processing of the surfactant(PVP) and electrolytic voltage. Magnetic property measurements at room temperature indicated that the as-prepared nanotrees of crystalline nickel possess higher saturation magnetism(MS) and coercivity(HC) than those of corresponding bulk nickel materials.
Powder metallurgy was used to fabricate carbon nanotube(CNT) field emission cathodes.CNTs and tin(Sn) powder were blended,compacted and sintered.After polishing and etching,CNTs were exposed and protruded from the metal surface.CNTs were embedded into the Sn matrix,which acted as stable field emitters. The J-E curves show excellent field emission properties,such as low turn-on field of 2.8 V/μm,high emission current density and good current stability.
Poly(glycidyl methacrylates)(PGMA) was grafted from zinc oxide(ZnO) nanowires via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization(SI-ATRP) technique.Firstly,the ZnO nanowires were synthesized by the one-pot hydrothermal technique.Subsequently,the ZnO was functionalized with 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane,which was converted to macroinitiator by the esterification of them with 2-bromopropionyl bromide.PGMA grafted ZnO nanowires(PGMA-ZnO) were then synthesized in an ATRP of the GMA with CuCl/2,2`-bipyridine as the catalyst system.Kinetics studies revealed an approximate linear increase in weight of polymer with reaction time,indicating that the polymerization process owned some "living" character.The structure and composition of PGMA-ZnO were characterized with scanning electron microscope(SEM),energy-dispersive X-ray(EDX) spectrometer,fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR) and thermogravimetric analysis(TGA).
Bao ZhangNantao HuYanfang WangZi WangYing WangEric S.KongYafei Zhang
