Size variation of nickel nanocrystals passivated with alkyl amines on thermolytic reduction

We report the size control of nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs) through thermolytic reduction. The NiNP size was found to be varying from mono to bimodal distribution as a function of the reaction temperature and time with a narrow size distribution of 2 to 20 nm. The NiNP size and shape have been followed by employing two different lipophilic alkaylamine ligands either hexadecylamine or oleylamine. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the NiNPs were crystalline FCC structure. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to characterize the NiNPs.