Magnetic and Electrical Properties of Nickel Nanoparticles prepared by Hydrazine Reduction Method

Abstract

Face centered cubic structure nanocrystalline nickel (Ni) nanoparticles are prepared at 60 °C from NiCl2 precursor using hydrazine hydrate as reducing agent and ethylene glycol as capping agent. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows spherical morphology of Ni nanoparticles with average grain size of 20 nm. Magnetization study reveals ferromagnetic interaction in nickel nanoparticles but close to superparamagnetic state. Saturation magnetization (Ms) at 10 and 300 K are found to be 45 and 40 emu/g respectively. Coercivity (Hc) value at 10 K is found to be 252 Oe. Electrical resistivity of Ni nanoparticles in temperature range 83 – 300 K shows the metallic behavior.