Facile synthesis of nanosized nickel phosphides with controllable phase and morphology

A solvothermal route was developed to synthesize nanosized nickel phosphides with controllable phase and morphology using non-toxic red phosphorus as the P3− ion source. The crystal phases and morphologies of nickel phosphides were facilely controlled by adjusting the counter anions of nickel salts and the solvents without additional additives. Four nickel sources (NiCl2·6H2O, Ni(CH3COO)2·4H2O, NiSO4·6H2O and Ni(NO3)2·6H2O) and six solvents (H2O, methanol, ethanol, glycol, glycerol and polyglycol) were applied in the synthesis. The obtained nickel phosphides were characterized by XRD, SEM and TEM. The results indicated that two pure phases of Ni2P and Ni12P5 with different exposition of the crystal surface and varied micro-morphologies can be achieved in this system, thus providing a facile way to prepare nickel phosphides with controllable phases and morphologies.