Controlled one-step synthesis of spiky polycrystalline nickel nanowires with enhanced magnetic properties

Abstract

Polycrystalline spiky Ni nanowires (Ni NWs) with high yield and high aspect ratio have been synthesized using a controlled one-step hydrothermal method in the presence of an external magnetic field. The morphological investigations reveal the spiky growth of the Ni NWs with thorns of 500 nm to 800 nm in length on the surface. This hierarchical structure growth pattern observed on the surface involved plane orientation growth during the nucleation in the presence of an external magnetic field. The best aspect of this methodology is the control of the morphological and growth orientation by tuning the process parameters such as magnetic field, temperature and concentration of reducing agent. The magnetic measurement shows the highest saturation magnetisation value of 61.3 emu g⁻¹ at room temperature that makes its potential for micro/nano magnetic devices.