A Versatile Combustion Synthesis and Properties of Nickel Oxide (NiO) Nanoparticles

We report here a simple solution combustion synthesis of nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles by using urea as a fuel and nickel nitrate as an oxidizer. The structural, morphological, optical, and magnetic properties of NiO nanoparticles were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD); highresolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM); Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), nearinfrared (NIR), and UV-vis spectroscopic techniques; and vibrating sample magnetometer. The combustion-synthesized NiO nanoparticles have a cubic structure with an average crystalline size of similar to 8 nm without any impurity. The agglomeration of fine particles with particle sizes in the range of 19.5 similar to 22.4 nm is seen by HRSEM images. The FT-IR spectrum of NiO nanoparticles reveals that an absorption band at similar to 493 cm (-1) is due to the bending vibration of NiO phase. The NIR spectrum exhibits poor NIR reflectivity of the combustion product, NiO. The as-prepared combustion product was black in color in contrast to the usual light green color. The room-temperature magnetization of the as-prepared NiO nanoparticles reveals an antiferromagnetic behavior.