Multiple phases of nanocrystalline materials: Preparation with phase purity by a facile method and characterization

C. K.  Mahadevan

doi:10.18282/mpc3527

C. K. Mahadevan Department of Physics, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620024, India

Article ID: 3527

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Keywords: polymorphs; nanocrystalline materials; X-ray diffraction analysis; thermogravimetric analysis; microwave-assisted solvothermal method; physicochemical properties

Abstract

There are many solid materials existing as different structural and other phases (polymorphs), when prepared with different conditions; they exhibit different physicochemical properties. It is important to consider the preparation of all these crystalline phases (along with amorphous phase), at nanoscale, in their pure form by using facile and cost-effective methods. Our study with nickel sulphide is considered here to illustrate this. Nickel sulphide exhibits three prominent phases which are: α-NiS, β-NiS and NiS_1.03. These crystalline (and amorphous NiS_1.03) nanophases along with doped α-NiS nanocrystals (doped with Cd²⁺, Fe²⁺ and O²⁻) have been successfully prepared in high purity using a facile solvothermal route (with the use of commercially availabe microwave oven); and they were charcterized physicochemically (chemically, structurally, optically, magnetically and electrically) using available standard methods. Obtained results indicate that the facile method adopted for the preparation is found to be an effective and cost-effective one. The role of XRD and TG/DTA measurements is found to be important in this preparation. A brief review is made in this direction.

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