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Surfactant-assisted synthesis of Ni2P nanostructures: effect of surfactant concentration on photocatalytic activity

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Abstract

Nickel phosphide nanostructures exhibit superior photocatalytic performance for dye removal and hydrogen evolution reaction. In this study, the preparation of Ni2P nanocatalysts with a simple and convenient hydrothermal method was studied. The effect of Hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) surfactant on the physical properties of the prepared samples was investigated through various characterization techniques, including XRD, FESEM, FTIR, BET, and DRS analysis. The results showed that the presence and concentration of HMT played a significant role in the variation of morphology and surface area of the samples. So that the shape of Ni2P nanostructures was adjusted, without using a template, by different amounts of HMT. In addition, XRD analysis coupled with Rietveld refinement, and FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the phase transition by adding a high amount of HMT surfactant. Due to higher specific surface area, Ni2P nanostructures synthesized in the presence of surfactant, showed higher photocatalytic activity for MB dye removal under UV lamp irradiation.

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  1. Faculty of Physics, Semnan University, P.O. Box 35195-363, Semnan, Iran

    Ehsan Farahi & Nafiseh Memarian

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Farahi, E., Memarian, N. Surfactant-assisted synthesis of Ni2P nanostructures: effect of surfactant concentration on photocatalytic activity. Eur. Phys. J. Plus 137, 463 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-022-02663-1

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