Template-free synthesis of Ni2P hollow microspheres with great photocatalytic and electrochemical properties

The hollow Ni2P microspheres were prepared using a facile one-step template-free solvothermal method. The products were characterized and the results showed that they were pure hexagonal Ni2P microspheres, made up of large amounts of Ni2P nanoparticles, and had an obvious inner space in the central of the microspheres. After being investigated, it was found that these Ni2P hollow spheres initially were some solid spheres, but after a specified time, they were converted to a hollow structure by an Ostwald ripening process, some even had a multi-wall hollow structure. Meanwhile, the as-prepared Ni2P hollow spheres showed a good photocatalytic degradation performance for Methylene Blue in aqueous solution. Electrochemical measurements turned out that the Ni2P hollow spheres have a great cycling performance. The initial discharge capacity capacity of is Ni2P hollow spheres up to 660 mAh g(-1) and it always keep in about 300 mAh g(-1) within 100 cycles at the current density of 100 mA g(-1).