Optical and electrochemical properties of nanosized NiO via thermal decomposition of nickel oxalate nanofibres

Nickel oxide nanoparticles with an average diameter of about 9 nm were synthesized via thermal decomposition of NiC2O4 precursor at 450degreesC. The nanoparticles were investigated using XRD, TEM, TGA, and UV-vis spectrophotometry. The optical absorption spectrum indicates that the NiO nanoparticles have a direct band gap of 3.56 eV. The electrochemical tests show that the ultrafine NiO nanoparticles, as a promising electrode material, can deliver a large reversible discharge capacity of about 6 10 mA h g(-1).